Dear Author » B Reviews

REVIEW: Lessons in Love by Charlie Cochrane

John — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:00:09 +0000

Dear Ms. Cochrane,

Ever since a good friend of mine suggested I read your Cambridge Fellows series, I was interested in your take on the M/M novel. I was told that the sexual relationship was tame compared to the majority of the market and the book had a fun historical aspect. Now I trust this friend in M/M recommendations, so when I got the book and started reading it I had fairly high expectations. She was the same person who introduced me to Whistling in the Dark (which totally blew me away), after all. I think fans of that same type of book will be pleased with Lessons in Love like I was. If they’re in for a little mystery with their romance, that is.

Professor Jonty Stewart once took was a student in English at Cambridge and now he is a professor of English at Cambridge. Jonty is ready to deal with a group of rowdy English majors. That he can handle. The appearance of Professor Orlando Coppersmith, however, isn’t as easily handled.

Orlando has always been a type of hermit among his colleagues at Cambridge. Social gatherings are foreign to him. His best friends are his favorite leather chair, the warm fire place, and a good book. Coming in one day to find the unruly young academic, Jonty, in his favorite chair makes him feel both frustration and, surprisingly, amusement. Professor Stewart manages to do what no other professor could accomplish: he has made friends with Orlando Coppersmith.

Slowly, the friendship of these two professors grows into something deeply affectionate. Orlando has never been sexually attracted before this; yet he can’t help but notice that he thinks of Jonty as more than a regular friend. In private they even use their Christian names, something they consider very personal. The budding romance between the two clumsy academics is jarred when a student is murdered.

The two professors quickly get on the scene of death. When it’s found that the student was murdered for homosexual reasons, Jonty and Orlando get scared. What if they are targeted next? What if someone discovers their secret affections? And, most importantly, what happens if the murderer is left to kill more students in Cambridge. Set in England, 1905, Lessons in Love is a fun and quick read that adds a well rounded mystery element to a historical gay romance.

M/M is a fairly new genre for me. I started reading it this year, and I’ve been pretty happy with the few books that I’ve read. I have found that, more than anything, I appreciate a well-rounded central couple, as in regular romance novels. Jonty was probably my favorite of the two characters. His position as the younger of the two educators would normally place him in the position of being the more submissive character. I enjoyed your reversal of that, instead making him the more experienced of the two in romance and sexual activity. He had a delightful attitude that was fun without being overboard, and it made his character one that you want to succeed.

Orlando’s dynamic was different, instead relying on his innocence when it comes to romantic attachments and two men having sex. Since his relationship with Jonty never goes into a full out deal in this first novel, his fears involving the practice are somewhat of an unresolved problem. At the end of the book a reader could easily just say that things work out based on the relationship, but it’s not something entirely resolved. As there are subsequent books in the series, it would be assumed that it’s addressed in later novels. I thought it was an interesting take on things, because Orlando gets these fears personified when he’s asked to dispose of a book of male sensuality a murdered student had at one point.

“You know that I would, so long as you also understand that I don’t want to do those things.”   Orlando shut his eyes and shuddered.   As far as he was concerned Lord Morcar’s books had been filled with filth and he didn’t want anything to do with such stuff.   When he’d been a young man, the total extent of his preparation for matters sexual had been his father teaching him that he should take a cold bath should he become aroused in any way.   He’d never had to obey the instruction.   And while Orlando had no idea what Jonty had been taught, he’d assumed it was something similar.

Jonty took his friend’s hand, speaking slowly and gently.   “I really do think you should tell me exactly what you read in those books.”

Orlando told him, in detail, becoming unhappier with every word.   It all seemed even more disgraceful when spoken aloud.

“Would you be very upset to know that I had done some of those things?”

“Jonty?”   Orlando didn’t know whether he was upset or not, just incredibly shocked.   He knew that Jonty had much more experience of the world in general than he did, but he’d always assumed that his friend was the same as him in this regard.   Still a virgin.   “I had no idea.”

You handled it deftly, and I especially appreciated the subtle but clear establishment that they were friends as well as more than. Relationships of this regard require that kind of establishment, and it made the conflicts so much more personal because of their friendship and romantic love working in conjunction.

Their relationship makes up a good 50% of the novel, with the other half being the mystery. I felt it was a nice balance, as you use every word with importance and don’t skimp on either aspect of the book. I felt the romance had it’s moments more so than the murder aspect. The mystery wasn’t officially assigned to Jonty and Orlando, and they weren’t extremely passionate about solving it. The one thing I do think hinders the mystery aspect is that some people will undoubtedly figure it out based on their thought process. I didn’t, but I overload on the hints for every character and can never really decide on a character to throw my suspicions toward.

On the romantic aspect, the one problem I had was that Jonty and Orlando agreed to halt their affections for the sake of their safety while the killer was on the loose, then they reenacted them and decided they could deal with it. Then they would repeat. That happened several times throughout the book, and I felt like people like Orlando and Jonty would have been sensible enough to at least try and stick with either one earlier on and make it as safe as possible, as opposed to changing their routine and never really getting a feel for what would make them safe and still let them do what they needed to do.

I found Lessons in Love to be an enjoyable read and a promising start to the Cambridge Fellows mystery series. At 130 pages, it wasn’t too long or too short, and I found it to be the perfect length for the story. Seeing the progression of Jonty and Orlando’s relationship should be amusing and heartwarming. Skilled mystery readers may guess the criminal before the end of the story, and there are some issues with repetition of a worn idea, but overall I felt the novella was very strong and worthy of a look for those that like historical fiction like I do. Especially those that are looking for M/M that isn’t so focused on sex. B

All the best,

John

REVIEW: Pegasus by Robin McKinley

John — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:00:34 +0000

Dear Ms. McKinley,

Your fantasy books made my life in middle school. I was in a precarious reading stage where I just didn’t know what I liked. Harry Potter was wrapping up, and I wasn’t sure if the fantasy genre was still my thing. While not every book tickled my fancy, (some were real stinkers) I discovered a copy of Rose Daughter in my library. I promptly devoured it – because a bubbly seventh grade reader must devour any YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast – and was enchanted. So then I read Spindle’s End. By then I really couldn’t deny how brilliant I thought you were.

I didn’t get the opportunity to read any of your other work from my library at that point, but I was left transformed by these books. You’ve written countless others, including the ever famous Beauty, The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, and Sunshine. While Pegasus wasn’t as strong of a read as my favorite of yours (Spindle’s End), it was a fresh breather for the YA world, and on reception of the companion book next year, will seem a little more fleshed out and complete.

Sylviianel (Sylvi, for short) is a princess. As a member of the royal family, she is required to have a pegasus bound to her. A thousand years has seen a treaty between the pegasi and the humans acknowledged, and the binding is an important part of inter-species respect. Sylvi isn’t keen on being bound. Her father and his pegasus can speak offhandedly, but rarely understand each other. Her mother and her pegasus can barely speak simple sentences to each other. It’s been well known that the pegasi and the humans haven’t had a clear understanding of each other.

The day of her binding, Sylvi is introduced to Ebon. A young, black pegasus with an attitude, Ebon is wary of being bound to Sylvi. He’s sure that a girl human would connect better with a girl pegasus. Tradition is tradition, however, and the fourth child of the human king must be bound to the fourth child of the pegasus king. Unlike anything that’s been known in remotely understood history, Ebon and Sylvi can communicate. They can mind speak.

Revealing their ability does not come easily. They suddenly have more responsibility than ever. Sylvi is barely twelve, yet her people expect her to understand the pegasi because of her communication. In truth, she only knows what she does from her studies, and from what Ebon slowly begins to tell her. What she does know is that the humans and the pegasi don’t truly understand each other. That they may, in fact, be underestimating the intelligence and abilities of the other race.

This brings Sylvi to the attention of the most powerful magician at court, Fthoom. A stingy and bold magician, he claims the pegasi and the humans can’t understand each other. That their friendship isn’t as grand as it seems. Fthoom could prevent the humans and the pegasi from coming to true understanding, and Sylvi is now in his way with her ability to truly speak to them.

Pegasus is the first half of a story that shows the importance and uniqueness of true friendship, as well as communication. Can two species really learn to speak to each other past simple sign language and mind speak? Or will Fthoom destroy the wavering peace between them for his own intentions?

One of your biggest strengths has always been the way you write your main female characters. They are always strong, whether physically or mentally, and they have an air of maturity about them despite their youth. Yet it’s believable maturity. Sylvi follows in this same character tradition, but she’s slightly more subdued than your other heroines. She has more of a mental process about her. While not quick and cunning or strong and brave, she knows how to get things done. Practical. I was never once disappointed with her choices, and the way she handled things throughout the book was solid. Readers who find the current YA heroine types trending will be pleased to see a stronger and more able character in the works.

Another character you handle well is Ebon. For many readers, the impossibility of having a romance between Ebon and Sylvi will be reason enough to try out this book, but there are a lot of complexities about his character. He’s the rasher of the two, yet he still has his own knowledge and skills that reflect someone ready to deal with these responsibilities. He’s a good other half to Sylvi. He dares her to take risks (like flying with him, which is considered highly inappropriate) and to look past the social norms without making a big deal about it. For something to be so serious for Sylvi, yet to be so simple to Ebon, is a good example of the cultural boundaries you play with. His friendship with Sylvi is also unique in that it has a slow build that really pays off for the reader. It’s so well drawn that it’s easy to see the beauty in their relationship.

Since the story is mainly focused on these two, they are the most important characters to look at, but the wealth of side characters isn’t to be ignored. The way you paint each pegasus as individually as you would a human character speaks well for the book’s themes and for your talent at making wonderful characters. Each one, from Sylvi’s mother to her wishy washy pegasus Hirishy, has a breadth of emotion and personality that other novels don’t. Part of it is because the story is so massive, yet another part is simply the way you can work these things into the narrative.

With your narrative strengths come worldbuilding strengths, but in Pegasus your world was built almost too well. I can tell people how pegasi can fly (their bones are hollow) or how human royalty isn’t a sole matriarchy or patriarchy, and that’s something I love. I entered the world, I invested my time, and I came out with a lot of knowledge that will stay with me subconsciously until the next book appears. I loved learning about it, as it was so fascinating and well thought out.

Yet you did it almost too much. The first few chapters were very large in the information department, and a lot of that was the world’s history. The rest of the novel was much better with handing out information, but the first few chapters are heavy handed and will deter readers with low attention spans. The book also ends without much resolution, but that’s not a problem with the writing more so than how the book was published. Consideirng the second half of this duet is actually the second half of the official book, it’s not a big issue. I’m really excited to read Pegasus II because of the immense payoff I know I’ll receive upon reading it. Other than your world building, you know how to write lovely dialogue, and your prose is equally lovely. Not many writers write with a style that is both fantastical yet so deep realistically, but you pull it off quite well.

Readers who haven’t read fantasy before would not want to start with Pegasus. It’s a longer novel with a lot of world building and setup, and readers need to understand that going in to really get the experience. Your characters are wonderful, and I really enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Sylvi and her bonded pegasus Ebon. The facts of your world will delight and entrance readers, but some parts are genuinely slow because of information or the general easy pace of the narrative. Pegasus isn’t the best of your best, but it’s still pretty good, and was easily one of my favorite books this year, even if it wasn’t as solid as some others on its own. I’m so glad to see another facet for teens and adults to read your books in, because reading your books simply brightens my day. B

All the best,

John

GAY WRITES REVIEW: The Glass Minstrel by Hayden Thorne

John — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:00:11 +0000

This review is part of our Gay Writes celebration. Don’t forget to comment on the original post for a chance to win one of those prizes as well as commenting on this post for a chance to win a copy of this book.

Dear Ms. Thorne,

After I read your last historical release, The Twilight Gods, I added you to my list of authors to watch and read regularly. The Twilight Gods was a great, historically researched novel that felt comfortably Dickensian. While I have yet to really dig into your contemporary novels, I know you have an admirable ability to write historical novels. I wasn’t at all worried about your latest release, and it proved to be just as good as the last one. While it didn’t capture me as intently as The Twilight Gods did, the quality of writing was lovely and consistent. This is so much more than a Christmas story.

The story, as many Christmas ones do, begins with a toymaker.

Abelard Bauer is a toymaker living in Bavaria in the mid-1800′s. His work is known to be meticulous and lovely, and many people in his village buy the toys from him to put under their trees. While toy making is his trade, what he really impresses people with is his knowledge of making glass spheres and ornaments. Princes and shepherds, and most recently, a tiny glass minstrel.

In the same tiny, Bavarian town lives a man named Andreas Schiffer. He knows Abelard well enough. Haunted by the tragic death of his son, and the darkened history behind it, Schiffer is hostile towards Abelard. Despite the fact that they share the tragedy of their sons perishing in the same accident, they also share another secret.

Their sons were lovers.

Set around the magical time of Christmas, The Glass Minstrel is the heartbreaking story of a toymaker who finds himself in the throes of depression. The last of his family has gone from him, just after he began to understand what it was like. It is a story of a broken friendship, of understanding, and of how loneliness affects us all. Especially around the holidays.

Reading your novels is always a quietly uplifting experience. Nothing immediately catches your attention, but you are pleasantly surprised by what the pages of the book hold. By the end of the story, you are invested in the characters and analyzing their motives like you would in the best of novels. Genre fiction is hard to pull off as something both original yet familiar, but books such as The Glass Minstrel manage to get it right.

Abelard was a protagonist I was amazingly fond of. It’s interesting to read a young adult novel where the adults are more centered than the teenager in the story, although there were several teenage characters in the narrative. His place in the story was simple yet powerful, and it was really touching to read about the dedication to his craft and how he missed his son. the fact that he was an accepting father was also a nice touch.

Schiffer was the black to Abelard’s white, though not in a bad way. Where Abelard deals with his grief by befriending a young teenager named Jakob (who is much like his son), Schiffer bemoans his fate and tries to make sense of the journal his son Heinrich left behind. His character is intense and angry, and seeing that anger slowly disappear as he became more accepting of his son’s passing was nice. It blended with the acceptance of what his son was, as well.

The story of Jakob was a pleasant side story that represented the love of the younger Bauer and Schiffer in a new form, although Jakob’s road to romance is not easy, and is not destined for a quick fix. He traverses the difficult waters of liking a childhood friend that is either straight or not accepting of their sexuality, and of liking someone that, while kind, is destined to never return those affections. Jakob’s character is the one that will resonate with teen readers the most, and I really enjoyed how real he was. I would have liked to know him outside the pages of your novel.

Your writing was as pleasant as always, and your style remains something unique yet accessible. Historical fiction enthusiasts especially will enjoy your attention to detail and the way you focus on characters of the middle class, as so few authors tend to do. Another thing that I really liked about this book is the journal entries from Heinrich that began each chapter.

Our books make for good props. It’s quite funny how everyone else sees us and commends us for being such a studious pair, with our books and notes spread out on the grass while we lie on our stomachs or sit against our favorite beech tree. Half the time we simply write notes to each other, which we pass back and forth. Sometimes I think we get a little too sentimental, but Stefan seems to take a lot of pleasure in it, so I try not to feel too self-conscious about being sweet on him.

- from the journal of Heinrich Schiffer

The plot was nice enough, though I think the subject of Christmas will deter some readers, despite the fact that the novel isn’t meant to be a Christmas story so much as a story that takes place around Christmastime. The setting was also thinner than The Twilight Gods, and I found myself not enjoying it as much. I would have liked more vivid descriptions of it, but it wasn’t so sparse as to deter readers. Merely, I felt that it could have been done better.

For readers that are unfamiliar with LGBTQ genre fiction and/or LGBTQ historical fiction, especially for young-adults, your work is a great starting point. Your stories are engaging and the feelings and situations you deal with are universal to all time periods. With enjoyable characters and writing that hardly misses the mark, I enjoy your work, and think that many other people will as well. You know how to write about LGBTQ issues delicately, yet you still manage to convey a wonderful message. We’re just like everyone else, and that’s what is important. B +

All the best,
John

Amazon Buy Link

We have a signed PRINT copy (US only) *and* a DIGITAL copy (no geographic restrictions) of this book to giveaway. Comment by 6am EST on Wednesday to win! (One win per person for the week of our Gay Writes giveaways, but feel free to comment on all posts to increase your chances of winning!)

REVIEW: John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles

John — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:00:04 +0000

Dear Ms. Charles,

It is very hard to say that I enjoyed reading a book that is death-centric. Saying that to someone, even if they are a reader, makes for some really strange responses. Death celebrities are the main focus of the characters in John Belushi is Dead, but it manages to be a fun and quirky journey instead of being depressing, like death normally is. Unusual in the best possible way, John Belushi is Dead is a great debut book.

Benji and Hilda live in the vast city of L.A., where celebrities practically ooze out of the sidewalks. A common practice for people that live in L.A., or visit, is to fawn over these celebrities. Hilda and Benji fall into this group of people, yet there is one key difference between the two best friends and the rest of the paparazzi. They are fascinated by dead celebrities.

Everything about a celebrity’s death intrigues the two of them. How they died. Where they died. Who last saw them and spoke to them. It’s like a wellspring of Hollywood macabre. Hilda started her pursuit after her parents died in a car accident, and realized that a famous actress died in much the same way. It felt safer, almost, to know that death was universal. That death comes even to someone like a celebrity.

Their friendship, while strong, is as odd as their hobby. Benji loves Hilda, but she just doesn’t reciprocate the feelings for him. When she befriends an old man named Hank who helped them on a fact-finding trip (an outing where Benji gets memorabilia of the dead celebrities – such as a bloodstained tile), Benji’s jealousy starts up, and their friendship continues to grow in awkwardness. That doesn’t even begin to describe what happens when Hilda actually starts liking someone that isn’t Benji. Jake, to be precise, who is Hank’s neighbor and watches over him to some strange extent.

Hilda’s slow realization of what her relationship with Benji is really about is the center of this interesting debut novel. John Belushi is Dead will appeal to readers looking for something original in the young adult market, or the book market in general.

If there is one type of book that I love, it’s a book with a protagonist that has a lot of depth to them. I don’t just mean a depth like ‘Oh, they save kittens AND fight evil.’ I mean real depth. The kind that makes you realize that humanity is complex and that people have layers. Hilda is one of those protagonists. You start off by writing her as the type of character that’s just plain weird and obsessive. She’s not over-obsessive, but she has a quirk. This has been done before. It’s not secret that quirky characters are fun to read about, especially in young-adult literature. But as you get deeper into the book, you realize how deeply her parent’s death affected her. And the meaning of her preoccupation with dead celebrities. Hilda’s character is portrayed as stronger for her flaws.

What makes her great is that she doesn’t stop there. Hilda doesn’t do all of this introspective thinking between events just for the fun of it. There is a purpose in it. Her greater understanding of how her obsession is unhealthy defines her character later on, and it still allows her to understand that it gave her some good lessons. Hilda, despite being obsessed with dead celebrities, knows that death is not the answer to everything. It is inevitable, yes, but still retains an air of the unknown. Her knowledge is further expanded by Benji, who is by many means an unhealthy character. Their tragic friendship is heartbreaking, and the many painful realizations that Hilda comes to have about Benji and his true personality are sickening, but effective.

This is the end of an early chapter, where Hilda begins to observe Benji more closely. It sent so many shivers down my spine, and I still remember it, even after reading it weeks ago.

“So?”

“So maybe having all this stuff in our houses is bad luck.”

“Hey, Hilda,” Benji said, turning back to his computer, “You should see this video.   It’s a girl getting screwed to death by a horse.”

I am the first to admit that my interests border on the macabre, but Benji’s obsessions were without boundaries.   I put the stones down and grabbed my bag.

“I’m out of here,” I said, and Benji waved to me halfheartedly.   As I walked to the door, I heard the sound of a girl moaning in ecstasy; then the moans became groans, and then screams.   I closed the bedroom door behind me, and smiled at Mrs. Connor on the way out.

However, as strongly depicted as this inverted friendship is, Hilda’s little romance wasn’t as much of a home-run for me. While I liked Jake well enough, the mystery behind him was kind of lame. More original than the cliche, but nothing that surprised me overall. I enjoyed his background as the guy that fine tunes movie sex scenes, and I felt like he treated Hilda well, but I just didn’t think that this book necessarily needed a romance in it. Hilda still manages to be a great, independent character, and she never puts Jake on a pedestal like other girls her age would do. It just didn’t have the same affect on me.

Her friendship with Hank was stronger, and I thought it was a nice one, and I love how her relationships with others slowly affected her thin one with her aunt. It’s a great novel in depicting character growth, and it really paid off at the end to see what kind of character Hilda became. Still, nothing really topped the insanity that was the Hilda/Benji friendship.

The plot was very character driven, so there wasn’t much propelling it forward from the outside, aside from Hilda pulling away from Benji and realizing the consequences and the positives of that. It still managed to be fast paced and well done, and even readers that normally stay away from character-driven work will want to check this out because of the Hollywood knowledge and the complex characters.

John Belushi is Dead has some flaws in the romance and side characters, but is a powerfully done read with its quirks and the disturbing friendship between Hilda and Benji. I found it to be creepy and fascinating, and it has me more than willing to try the next Kathy Charles read. You’re one of a kind, Kathy Charles, and so is your book. B +

All the best,

John

REVIEW: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

John — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:00:13 +0000

Dear Ms. Mead,

I’ll admit that the first time I saw your book series was when Twilight came out. I was recently getting into YA at the time, but after having read Twilight, I felt like your series was just a pretender. Vampire Academy. You have to admit it’s a pretty ho-hum kind of name. Obviously vampire. And I was quite a little reading snob at the time so I didn’t think much of it. But before long I had an urge to read it – an urge for the world behind the title. A little less than two years later I finally got the chance to read it, and I am proud to say it kicks Twilight to the curb.

Rose, a dhampir, is on the run with Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess. The dhampir and the Moroi are the two respectable vampire species. They are forever at war with the Strigoi, a race of vampires that are made instead of born with vampirism. Rose and Lissa have fled St. Vladimir’s Academy because of an incident almost two years before that changed their lives forever. A new dhampir professor named Dimitri captures the girls and returns them to the academy after almost two years on their own.

Their return to St. Vladimir’s brings new challenges for the two girls. Rose is separated into dhampir classes while Lissa into Moroi classes. The dhampir are the ones that protect and care for the Moroi, who are basically vampire royalty. Rose has to catch up on combat techniques she missed learning with the other dhampir, and is assigned to be tutored by the handsome Dimitri. While Rose is off training, Lissa is dealing with the world of Moroi politics and mastering her elemental affinity. The two best friends are usually separated from each other – or so everyone thinks. What they don’t know is that Rose and Lissa share a psychic bond unlike any other.

Through this psychic bond comes other troubles. It isn’t normal for Moroi and dhampir to share such a strong bond. Lissa’s also been getting strange mood swings, and finding mauled animals inside her room and backpack. Someone’s targeting her, and Rose is determined to find out who it is. Add in her attraction to Dimitri, as well as Lissa’s growing affections for a guy who seems creepy and suspicious, and the stakes (pardon the pun) are high. Vampire Academy shows Mead’s skill in writing urban fantasy, but with a snarky teen edge.

Let it be said that not every vampire book has a doormat for a heroine. Rose is quite the opposite of Bella. She swears and isn’t afraid to kick ass if it means getting her way. The odd maturity she shows despite her temper makes her a compelling heroine to watch, and her symbiotic friendship with Lissa really makes her a three-dimensional character. She’s loyal and tough but still soft and forgiving. Her attraction and romance with Dimitri makes her even better. The age difference isn’t major, and as a reader I never once found it to be a big factor based on their connection. Rose herself is almost 18, so her attraction to Dimitri, who is 26, isn’t seen as overtly gross.

Lissa is a nice mesh with Rose. She’s softer and more of a people-person, but her own need to help other people makes her life harder. The extremes that readers will see later on in the book because of her nature take this theme to a whole new level. Her romance for an outcast Moroi boy is just as interesting as Rose’s romance, but is a lot more accessible for readers. She’s a character that you come to care about early on, especially concerning the scenes where Rose actually gets into Lissa’s mind. Readers really get to know a nice, fleshed out best friend despite the narrative being first person.

Your writing style is accessible, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that you moved from writing adult stuff to writing teen stuff without style issues. Teen writing has to have more of a frankness to it, and more natural humor, and Vampire Academy had more than enough of that. The general world building was also well done; everything felt really fresh for a vampire novel, and the whole ‘Vampire Finishing School’ idea was done better here than in other series such as the House of Night. The action was always present, and the readers never have a chance to be bored. However, it is still the first in a series, so the ending is just enticing enough to keep you wanting more, and the depth of the plot and the intrigue can definitely be upped in later novels.

Vampire Academy is a solid addition to the teen paranormal market and a great first novel in a six-book series. The well-written romance and action will keep readers of all ages coming back for more, and it easily sets itself apart from the cliched books like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. It’s enjoyable, quick, and a good bridge novel if you don’t read a lot of young-adult paranormal or urban fantasy. With the sixth and final book coming out this year – just before the start of a new spin-off series – readers who wait for completed series will be able to start it without too much trouble. B

All the best,

John

REVIEW: Purge by Sarah Darer Littman

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:17 +0000

Dear Ms. Littman,

Eating disorders are on the rise for teenagers, and they are one hell of a subject to write about. They are vast and difficult to understand, and are met with mixtures of sympathy and scorn. Problem novels that deal with subjects like this are becoming more and more common, and I was eager to see how Purge stacked up to the rest of them.

Being the newest Barfer at Golden Slopes is not fun. Janie Ryman doesn’t like puking her food out, anyway, but she just couldn’t help it. Now she’s stuck in a reform home with other Barfers (bulemics), Starvers (anorexics), and generally crazy people. For the next few weeks, or however long it takes her to solve her issues, she’s stuck there, even being watched while going to the toilet to prevent any unnecessary puking.

The other Barfers, Callie and Melissa, aka Missy, aren’t too happy to have her there. As long as she’s on time for lunch – because unlike the Starvers, they like to eat – they won’t mess with her. The Starvers don’t care much either, led by the Queen of Lean Helen, who’s been at Golden Slopes longer than anyone. Janie’s confinement is looking worse and worse by the second. They’re monitored every second by someone like Nurse Joe, and there’s just no way that she can sneak off and puke.

When a new Starver–this one a male–comes to the Slopes, things get even more interesting. He’s quiet, and Janie doesn’t feel even remotely attracted to him, but there’s an odd feeling that comes with having a guy join the group. Especially one with parental problems almost as bad as hers. Royce, a wrestling jock who can’t seem to accept that he is a Starver himself, joins soon after. The Starvers and Barfers are connected by their common goal to get skinny and do pretty much anything to get there.

They work together in group sessions, and as Janie’s story unravels, we are given a look into the life of someone with an eating disorder. The simplest things with eating are hard enough, but when the residents of Golden Slopes begin to examine what their lives were like before they began barfing or starving, they realize there is far more to their lives than wanting to be skinny.

What you capture with this look into the lives of people with these problems is just how real and how devastating an eating disorder is. Janie is a character that has to go through everything to pass through denial and become a strong person. Her journal entries that start each chapter are really eye-opening in terms of how she feels. The stark contrast between those entries and the third person narrative really show the reader your ability to move between voices, as well as how a character’s thoughts aren’t the same in third person. It really brought Janie out as a character.

The escape from her denial and her eventual journey into how she got into being a Barfer was really fascinating. While most YA novels have absentee parents, Janie has her parents frequently visit. They are actually a vital part of her recovery. I can’t help but think this would be a hard, but important novel for parents to read. Janie, as well as the other members of Golden Slopes, all have problems at home in one way or another that led them to their mess. Janie felt like her father didn’t love her enough, Tom felt like his dad wouldn’t love him because he did things considered ‘girly’, and Helen’s parents just abandon her at the center for weeks on end without contact. From seemingly small actions to huge missteps, Purge really shows that caring for a teenager is a sensitive subject that can easily be bruised.

Janie, as a whole, worked really well for me, and the secondary characters were really dynamic in themselves. I love the extremity that Helen represents, and the calm, collected personae that Tom radiates. Each and every member of the Golden Slopes Barfers and Starvers club affects her journey in some way. I especially like the way you treat Tom’s homosexuality. Being a gay teenager is hard, and a lot of them have parents like Tom’s father that would push them into doing sports or something in the hopes of making them straight. Making him such a strong and stable character that shows quick psychological recovery is a great thing that sends a good message to teenage and adult readers alike.

However, with all of these great side characters, I couldn’t help feeling like some of them were left off. For instance, really late in the novel, one of the Barfers is discovered to self-inflict pain. That doesn’t really go anywhere. Also, a tragic event that happens to another character about midway through the novel isn’t really reflected on much by the other characters. There were many instances where I felt like it could have been expanded upon simply because there was so much there.

Another issue I had was the lack of mention of the generally crazy members of Golden Slopes. There was a great opportunity to have some moving characterization and expand the breadth of the novel to psychological disorders in general, at least for a secondary theme, but it wasn’t really explored. I would have liked to see it happen.

Purge is one of those novels that really stands out as being serious. It’s framed by a group of characters and an underlying psychology that shows the depth and horror that is being a Barfer or a Starver. While it misses it’s chance in some places, it’s a great novel about eating disorders that will resonate with adult and teenage readers alike. B+

All the best,

John

Book Link | Amazon | BN | Borders

There is no ebook format.

REVIEW: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:00:17 +0000

Dear Ms. McCahan,

Teen romances have recently opened up to exploration of sexual identities, acts, and what it means to really be in love. Novels such as Kiss It explore the often real fact that teens do want to have sex. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, however, explores what it’s like to be someone who just doesn’t want it before marriage. Intertwined with this idea of marriage is the struggle of a girl trying to find out who she is.

If there was one place Bronwen could imagine having sex for the first time, the couch in her parents basement is definitely not it. Chad, her prom date for the night, just didn’t seem to get it. She dumped him at the risk of her parents disapproval, and kept her virginity. Not like that mattered to them. They were too busy thinking of how Chad made a great boyfriend for her. It was always like this. How could she not be switched at birth?

Ever since she was little, Bronwen had a theory she was switched at birth, and was really Phoebe Lilywhite. She knows she wasn’t, but how else could one explain being the only one in the family to hate ketchup? Or how her mother always seems to find fault with her, while praising her brother – whom she has nicknamed Jesus? For the longest time, Bronwen has secretly been Phoebe. It’s just who she is.

Meeting Jared Sondervan changes that, though. He isn’t thrilled, but he is willing to wait for marriage. He’ s a college boy, impossibly cute, and just right for her. They are truly in love. Everything’s great. But with commitment comes questions? Who is Bronwen? Phoebe? Or someone else entirely?

Bronwen is a character that manages to have me relating to her at every turn. Most teenagers feel that sense of distance from their family, especially when they are discovering how to define themselves. She’s funny but not annoying, and she works really well as a protagonist. Her narration is never preachy – which I was originally worried about, because a lot of novels with characters that have the abstinence mentality are. Jared was a nice fit for her, though he was kind of vanilla for my tastes.

Their relationship is really cute, and while I enjoyed seeing it unfold, the marketing was not what I expected. The reader is vary aware that Jared will propose to Bronwen, but the first half of the book is not about that. The entire book, while focused on the relationship, is not about the proposal and eventual marriage. I know the author isn’t responsible for marketing, but I really did not like being led to expect that from the book. They have a nice dynamic, and their status as an engaged couple and the troubles and eventual heartbreaks that come from it were realistic, and I was glad the teen marriage trope wasn’t glossed over as something light and not a big deal.

Secondary characters were hit and miss for me, though, and in this book I felt like that made an impact. Bronwen’s mother is a big character in terms of her attitude towards Bronwen and how that shaped Bronwen’s inability to find herself and feel like she is a part of her family – and while we constantly see the side of her mother that is self-centered and against Bronwen’s well being, we never see a decent fleshing out of her love for her daughter, which is supposed to exist. I would have liked to see at least one main scene where her mother was being really kind and supportive. Her relationship with her step-father, Whitt, was much better in my opinion, and the tying up of that relationship is a really good lesson for teens that deal with a step-parent. Lauren, Bronwen’s best friend, is also done really well.

My other main quibble that really prevented this book from being one I would keep was the treatment of Bronwen’s image and the ending as a whole. The concept of her Phoebe Lilywhite personae was a cool one; it just wasn’t used as much to my liking. Passing references and all were nice, but the concept itself just didn’t live up to it’s full potential. The ending was a mixed bag for me. I liked that while Jared and Bronwen are given a chance at happiness, it isn’t certain, and that Bronwen and Lauren’s high school friendship wasn’t as strong as it once was. It was realistic. At the same time, I felt like the general quickening up of the years in short little summarized bursts was just not to my liking. I would have liked a one year later kind of thing. It would have had the same affect but left some things to the reader’s imagination.

There is a lot to like about I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, especially if you are a soft romantic, but some of the character relationships didn’t feel up to par, and some of the concepts didn’t go as far as they should have. It’s a much better romance than a lot of the stuff out on the market, and is a solid debut novel, but just didn’t capture me the way other romance books for teens have. B-

All the best,

John

REVIEW: If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace

Jane — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 22:41:48 +0000

Dear Ms. Pace:

Jayne raved about this book when it first came out and it has only taken me a year to read it. I am not sure why I waited other than the fact that I can be a cheapskate at times and didn’t want to splurge on a trade paperback. But you showed up at my library and I snapped you up. Now I am wondering why I waited so long?

The book is standard chick lit fare: plucky heroine finds her world falling apart and must spend the book reorienting her life. Jane Laine finds out her boyfriend of two years has started a new relationship without telling her. She has a job at an art gallery working for the most horrible man on earth. The gallery’s main claim to fame is the representation of Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmon. Ian is the hottest modern artist of our time, according to the book. Ian plans to do a summer art festival tour that takes him all over the world. His art sells best after the art fairs and he requests that Jane accompany him.

Jane doesn’t understand his work, or Ian, and therefore decides that he is a poser. She doesn’t particularly like him and whether that dislike stems from her failure to understand his work or that he willingly associates himself with the most horrible man alive, is unclear to both the narrator and the reader. What is clear to the reader is that Ian is a decent guy who despite his success is unassuming and good company. It is self evident that because Jane has lost herself, her vision of life not quite clear and she continues to doubt Ian’s decency.

The book is at its best when it focuses on the art, the art fairs, Jane’s family and her battles with Dick, the art gallery owner from hell. The book falters when it focuses on Jane and her myopic view of life. She tends to indulge in self pity and continues to make bad decisions until very close to the end.

I did love the art fair scenes and the Andy Warhol quotes. In the end, I did believe in the happily ever after. B for you.

Best regards,

Jane

REVIEW: Ebook Weekly: New Concepts Publishing Review

Jayne — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 09:23:26 +0000

NCP began publishing in 1996. They sell ebooks and also offer some of their books in print.

They have several book categories:

Anthologies, Special Collections
Contemporary Romance
Fantasy and Fantasy Romance
HARMONY™ Romance, Multicultural, and Interracial Romance
Historicals: Medieval, Western, Regency, and Georgian
Historicals: Other Time Periods and Unusual Locales
Love Bites™ Short Stories (SENSUAL to CARNAL), including Short Story Themes and Holiday Themes
Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Werewolves and Shifters (Contemporary)
Time Travel
Thrillers, Mysteries, and Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction and Futuristic Romance

Their sensuality ratings are sweet, sensual, spicy and carnal.

BOOK LENGTH:

Full Novel = 90,000 words and up; 360 pages and up (double-spaced)
Mid Novel = 61,000-89,000 words; 244-356 pages (double-spaced)
Category = 40,000-60,000 words; 160-240 pages (double-spaced)
Novella = 20,000-39,000 words; 80-156 pages (double-spaced)

There is a link to an author information page with links to each individual author. Those author pages have covers for all the author's books at NCP. Some have pictures and bio information. Clicking on the title under each cover takes you to the book. There is information about length, price, sensuality level, cover art, ISBN number, price and rating warnings. There is also another link which will take you back to the author's other works.

NCP does have an email newsletter and does seek submissions from authors. They have a Sizzling Sellers page. You can create an account which keeps you from having to enter your personal information before each purchase. Your customer number is automatically set by NCP so remember to write it down.

Their home page has The Hot Box with information about a yahoo readers group, the newsletter which lists sales and special pricing, and a list of nation and world wide (there's a listing for Australia) booksellers who carry NCP books. It also lists hot new print and ebook romances.

They have links to their FAQ page, NCP news, current staff , contact (email and snail mail). There is also a link
to cover art galleries. When you click on a particular cover, it will link to sales information.

-Navigation- by author, new releases, new from last month, sizzling sellers, special features, upcoming releases, category. I did not find a search function.
-Excerpts- Extensive.
-Reviews-some books have short excerpts from reviews. I did not see a place for reader reviews or grades.
-Series- the one series I know of wasn’t listed as such and no information was on the individual book pages.
-Wordcount – books are rated by range.
-Wishlist- I did not see a place to store information about books I might be interested in buying per se but any book added to your cart will stay there even if you exit out of the site.. However, you have to remove it before making your final purchases. I guess you could buy what you wanted and then go back and add books you’re thinking about.
-Formats-Adobe, Lit, HTML, RTF. The FAQ page mentions that cover art comes with the lit and newer adobe formats but not with HTML or RTF. Buyers selecting those formats will need to click on the cover on the excerpt page and save it to their file.
-Bookshelf-I did not see any place where information about past purchases is stored. Nor any way to redownload past purchases.
-Payments-Credit card, electronic check or paypal. After payment, you will be taken to a screen with purchase information which you can print.
-Downloads-dl links are delivered via email. The email is sent immediately after the purchse and contains a link which must be cut and pasted into your browser. You need to save the file.
-Confirmation-by email immediately after purchase.
-Prices- seem to be in line for epublishers. I’ve seen better and I’ve seen a lot worse.
Irks- when you click on the “buy” button you will be taken to another screen. There you have to click on an “add to cart” button (which is very small) in order to put the book in your cart. It’s easy to miss this step. There is no opportunity to redownload. I did once have to contact customer service about a book which only of which was included in the dl link. The response was prompt and a link for the entire book was resent. I’m not sure if you could contact NCP in the event that your file was ever lost and get another dl link so backup your files.

Overall, I would give this publisher a B- grade.

~Jayne

REVIEW: The Fallen Angels by Bernard Cornwell (aka Susannah Kells)

Jayne — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:00:04 +0000

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Let me say that even though I give The Fallen Angels a B+, I doubt that many people will want to read this one once I’ve finished with this review. How’s that for a ringing endorsement?

It’s 1792 Paris and the full horror of the French Revolution has finally broken. In one week, over 1000 of the hated aristos have been butchered in the prisons and the streets flow with blood. Three Englishmen and a gypsy groom, Gitan, have arrived at a prison searching for the fiancee of one of them, Toby Lazender. They find what is left of her and as his groom gathers her remains, Gitan learns about the horrible way in which she died. He also learns that it was on the direct orders of a man named Bertrand Marchenior, a member of the dreaded Paris Security and a secret member of a group called the Illuminati, ones who are dedicated to republicanism and the removal of monarchies and organized religion. They are ruthless, they are determined and they recruit Gitan to their ranks to act as a spy when he returns to England with Toby. But Gitan is already a spy, working for Toby who works for the English and their monster of a spy-master, Lord Paunceley. Let me pause to be sure readers have got all that.

Toby sends word to his family in England via Gitan that he is staying in France to help further the rebellion against the Revolution and to avenge his fiancee. His sister, Campion, is less than thrilled to learn this as their father is slowly dying, there is no other brother and if Toby dies without issue, their depraved cousin Julius will inherit the Earldom. Lazen is a great house of England and the estates are among the richest in the land. And unknown to the Lazen family, all of it is now under secret siege by the Fallen Angels, a secret group within the Illuminati whose job is to provide funds for their society. They know the old Earl is
dying, that Toby is vulnerable in France and so focus on gaining control of Campion who has been running the estates for her father for years. They hatch an evil plan to render Campion unmarriagable which is thwarted at the last second by Lord Lewis Culloden. Knowing that the estates must be secured in the event that Toby doesn’t return from France, Campion’s father and her French Uncle Achilles (her mother’s brother) urge Campion to marry Lewis, a steady man who appears to love her, even if Campion has fallen under the spell of Gitan, a man she knows little of and who she also knows is totally unsuited by his station in life to aspire to her hand. Still with me here?

Campion has been raised to do her duty by her family and so yields to family pressure to accept Lewis’s proposal. But she can’t keep her thoughts from turning to Gitan and wondering if he might be the man with whom she could find love, even if these thoughts for a servant shame her. The wedding approaches and she tries to abandon all thoughts of love in marriage and steel herself to marry without love and for the good of the Lazen family and estates. But a magical midnight meeting with Gitan begins to reveal to her just what kind of a man he really is and how much he loves her as well. He tells her she is in danger but that he will return to protect her when needed. But Campion’s hand is forced when her father dies suddenly and knowing that she has no choice, the wedding to Lewis takes place.

It is then that the horrific plot against Campion and the estates is revealed to her as she learns that her brother has died in France, the disgusting cousin Julius, who is under the control of the Fallen Angels, has inherited the Earldom and that people she thought her friends are actually in league against her. Campion rises to the occasion, fights back against her oppressors and gains a temporary respite but knows that as long as the Fallen Angels are still alive, she will never be free of their evil designs. Realizing that she must act as the bait to draw them all together, she journeys with Gitan to their meeting place in France at her mother’s family’s old estates and the final showdown with evil begins.

If Raphael Sabatini had written his novels portraying the true evils of the times, he could have written this book. It is more adventure at first and the romance really doesn’t begin to show until the second half. It also accurately depicts the decadence of the upperclasses, the nightmare of the French Revolution gone wrong, and the way the aristocracy was raised to believe themselves
better than the serving classes. Campion is ashamed that she has any feelings at all for a mere groom and has to slowly learn that not only is Gitan worthy of her, but that she is worthy of him. She reacts to the unexpected danger in her life very believably; not as a TSTL feisty idiot but as woman who has never been threatened and who has to draw on her inner strength and learn from her experiences to overcome her enemies. Gitan is a bit more of a mystery and we really only learn about him as Campion does. He’s not perfect but he is strong enough to be gentle when the occasion demands and he’s revealed as a man taking a huge risk when he, a gypsy and a servant, dares to risk all for the love of a Lady. And, thank you God, he doesn’t suddenly turn out to be a long lost Lord at the end of the book. He and Campion will really have to face the disapproval of society.

Now for the warnings. Let me reemphasize that this is not a book for everyone. It has graphic depiction of violence, especially violence against women. Readers might get ticked off at Campion for her early attitude against Gitan and the romance doesn’t truly begin til about half way through the book. The Fallen Angels is also the sequel to another book called A Crowning Mercy. If you stick with it, this is a rousing, bang up action adventure that I recommend with a B+.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Sex with Your Ex by Dakota Cassidy

REVIEW: Strange Brews by Stobie Piel

Jayne — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:00:39 +0000

Dear Ms. Piel,

I’ve read a couple of your books before and always enjoyed them though sometimes some improbabilities marred my final grade. Therefore, I was really excited to see a 5 heart review for your first Woodland Mage book. My final thoughts are: not as good as the review but not as bad as I thought it might be when I started to read it.

The opening chapter doesn’t make me fall in love with either main character. Eliana appears to be a little dishonest and up to no good. Damir comes off as a bit smug and condescending. Apparently they’ve been that way for most of their lives. Then Eliana accidentally drinks the potion that wipes her memory clear and Damir’s reaction really didn’t thrill me. He decides to take his
revenge by taking her to his home and pretending she’s his wife. He keeps stating to himself that this is allowed by the laws of the country (for one mage to take revenge on another for past acts) but when he persists even after he realizes she has no memory and that she truly believes she’s his wife, it just seems icky. He ultimately decides not to go through with actual sexual intercourse but the whole idea that he was almost willing to take this revenge on someone who had no memory of anything she’d done to him in the past didn’t endear him to me. It really makes me rethink my views on the “innocent by reason of insanity” plea.

And for the next 100 pages, Eliana comes off as a Stepford wife. She’s sweet, loving, adores her “husband,” listens to everything he says and only wants to please him. She’s too bland and this section is, well in all honesty, a little boring. I wanted some spice and to see some of this famous bickering these two are known for. Luckily, Eliana finally realizes what’s happened to her
and that she’s the woman who the whole country has always thought was a witch (in behavior and not just job description). She still doesn’t have her memory back but she’s pissed that Damir tried what he did. But she also realizes that she still has feelings for Damir and knows she doesn’t want to go back to the relationship they had. He feels the same way and their fight to protect
their country from the evil that stalks it is mixed with their slowly working out their personal future. It’s this last 3/5 of the book that saves it for me.

I think that you’ve done a good job with the secondary characters and in building the Woodland world. You don’t go overboard there and describe it enough for it to be real without too much time spent on that. It’s enough for a romance/fantasy book. I like the open ended resolution. Evil has been defeated but only for the time and the story will be continued in Prince of Ice. B- for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Blunder Woman by Dakota Cassidy

REVIEW: Undead Men Wear Plaid By Marie Treanor

Jayne — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 09:38:35 +0000

Dear Mrs. Treanor,

After reading “The Other Sea,” I knew I wanted to read more by you. Keishon’s review of “Undead Men Wear Plaid” decided which one of your other stories to try next. I’m happy to say this book worked well for me.

Once again, your knowledge of Scotland (specifically Glasgow) adds depth and believability to the story. I wasn’t quite sure about this “Centre” for (apparently) paranormal studies and control for which the heroine works. But you did a great job with Karoly, the 500 year old Romanian vampire. He’s hot, he’s sexy as hell and I love him. I’d almost be willing to be lunch for him too.

I loved the humor of the story and have admitted in the past I’m a sucker for a well written first person book. In the two books of yours I’ve read, you’ve presented a totally different style for each. I can’t wait to see what your other books will be like. I do have to say that like Keishon, I found some editing errors (namely questions that should have had question marks instead of periods) but it wasn’t enough to totally pull me out of the story. B for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Sex with Your Ex by Dakota Cassidy

Jayne — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:00:36 +0000

Dear Ms Cassidy,

And now for something completely different. The other two books of yours I’ve read have been heavy on the paranormal and had more of a humorous feel to them. Though “Sex with Your Ex” has humor and a paranormal element, it’s mainly a marriage in trouble book. It’s also got such an emotional depth to it. Just as your heroine, Melina, does, readers will have to decide whether or not they can forgive a hero who’s committed the ultimate betrayal.

I thought you handled the payoff scene brilliantly. I mean, how many times have I wanted a wounded heroine to really let the hero have it with both barrels only to have her forgive and forget too quickly? Too damn many. And I love how Melina’s actions and feelings are a product of how she was raised. I appreciate that Brady knows he f*cked up, knows how much he hurt the woman he loves so much and is willing to work to save his marriage. Melina’s honesty with herself was refreshing too.

I have one niggle that keeps this from being an A grade and since it’s kind of a spoiler, I’ll cloak it in secrecy. After all the pain of Melina and Brady not being able to conceive and both of them coming to terms with that, you went and gave them the miracle “romance” baby. This just seems to negate everything they’d been through and frankly was unnecessary, IMO. Yes, it’s feel good but my grade would have been higher without it. B+ for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Tall, Dark and Dead by Tate Hallaway

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:00:11 +0000

Dear Ms. Hallaway,

The cartoon cover, the back blurb and lots of the reviews/descriptions at Amazon would lead people to think this is a comedic Vamp Lit. Let me tell readers that it’s not. There are a few humorous jokes and situations but for the most part, you’ve made this book pretty serious.

Garnet Lacey is a witch on the run. The Vatican has a new witch hunting group and they murdered all the other members of Garnet’s Minneapolis coven. Now, she’s relocated to Madison, WI and is the manager of an occult store. When Sebastian Von Traum enters her store looking for mandrake (preferably harvested under a full moon by naked witches, oh and could you get some that was grown under a gallows?) she knows she’s in trouble because he’s gorgeous, he’s available and he’s dead. No aura, you see.

She’s also having to deal with Lilith, the original badass Goddess. Garnet channeled Lilith after walking in on the witch hunters standing over the corpses of her dead coven. Now she’s having trouble keeping Lilith from taking over her body and turning Madison into a slaughterhouse.

Soon Garnet is fighting for her life. The Vatican witch hunters want her dead but more than that, they want the secret formula Sebastian used to turn himself into a vampire 1000 years ago since it allows him to live in daylight and survive on less blood than most vampires. Can Garnet and Sebastian escape the hunters, control Lilith and hope for any kind of life together?

The vampires in this story aren’t cutesy or tortured by their need for blood. They aren’t angst ridden and haven’t discovered a way to totally avoid feeding off of humans. I like that you make them both good and bad. They are what they are and accept it. You also have them display the character traits they had as humans which I thought made them more well rounded characters.

Garnet is a witch and you’ve invested a lot of time to really make her one. She automatically says, “Oh, Goddess,” knows how to cast spells, has her alter set up and truly believes what she practices. Garnet does grow as a person as the story progresses but she has an annoying habit of being wishy-washy about vampires and I think trusts Sebastian very quickly for someone who’s gone through the horrors that she has.

I appreciate the time you’ve taken to make the story feel authentic. I don’t hang around occult stores or know much about astrology so I’m not sure how much of this is made up and how much is accurate. I also like that you don’t force an all around HEA. There are some plot lines that aren’t resolved in a group hug and the story is more open ended. I’m not sure if this means there’s a sequel in the works.

It took me a little while to mentally switch gears and stop looking for humor in this book. I think the descriptions and cover may lead some people to buy the book and end up disappointed while others who might want a more serious story could overlook it. B for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Sucks to be You by Sahara Kelly

Jayne — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:00:59 +0000

Dear Ms. Kelly,

What a great title! I had gotten this book last year just because of it and my review of Changeling Press made me want to pull it out, or rather pull it up on the computer, and finally read it. I’m so glad I did.

Toni and her best friend Mercedes are having a girls’ night complete with pink coconut sponge cakes, mead, a Ouija board, a scrying bowl and an incantation. It’s when they’re trashed off their asses that Drago shows up, summoned across time and space. Toni thinks he’s a figment of her wishful imagination and she’s happy to find that her made up dream guy is one hell of a f*ck. Except at the end, when the orgasms are flying, the asshole bites her!

The next morning, Toni’s shocked to learn that her figment is real (and still damn good looking), Drago is shocked to learn he’s not in Transylvania any more and that Toni remembers him biting her (that’s not supposed to happen!), and Mercedes is presented with something for her scientific mind to figure out. Who is this guy or more importantly, what is he?

Since this is such a short piece, you don’t have much time for in depth character development but I still feel like you showed enough for me to feel comfortable with these three characters. You did have to resort to a sort of “fated mates” thing to explain the instant love but the story’s fun enough that I’m willing to go with that. I enjoy the biting humor (sorry, no pun intended) and the neat way you ease Drago into his new life (who knew pot could do that?).

People looking for a short, fun and funny vampire TT will want to check this one out. B for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Blunder Woman by Dakota Cassidy

Jayne — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 09:30:26 +0000

Dear Ms. Cassidy,

I needed to pick a Changeling Press book for my epublisher review and yours caught my eye. I’m still not quite sure about the cover art (what happened to the heroine’s head?) but the book is great fun. Kind of “The Incredibles” crossed with a romance book.

Kennedy Smith isn’t quite sure what to make of this guy who’s telling her she’s some long distant relative of an Egyptian goddess and that she’s been picked to join OOMPH. The Organization of Magnificent Paranormal Heroes needs her as a positive spin-meister type, kinda person. They’ll supply her with neat magical things that will give her super hero-ish powers after she trains her butt off (really, she does loose come cellulite but no, her ta-ta’s don’t get any bigger) plus a costume. Well, the costume kind of sucks but she gets great boots! The problem? Her trainer, Captain Daring, is the real deal. A born superhero who resents this super heroine wannabe. But he’s got great eyes and is great in bed. And great in the front seat of Kennedy’s Pacer. But when the chips are down, can Kennedy come through in the clutch or will the forces of evil triumph?

Wow, hot sex, fun characters and a plot! Like I said, this one is a treat to read. I like that you let Kennedy use her talents to save the day. I love the humor but also that you reel it in before it gets too sarcastic. The sex scenes are hawt without getting too silly, purple or clinical. Good job. But is there really enough room in a Pacer for those acrobatics? ;)
B for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Smuggler’s Bride by Darlene Marshall

Jane — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:48:14 +0000

Dear Mrs. Marshall,

See I’m finally getting around to writing you a letter about the first book of yours I actually read. So, I’m a little backwards! My enjoyment of Smuggler’s Bride did lead me to read your other two books. ;)

Lady Julia Delarue has arrived in Florida to visit her Aunts and Uncles (so her parents think) and to have some adventures as her American mother did after she married Julia’s English father (so Julia thinks). But what she doesn’t count on, as she tries to help solve the mystery of who is using her family’s shipping business to smuggle goods into Florida past the noses of the understaffed and unappreciated fledgling US Revenue Marine (later changed to US Coast Guard), is that she’s going to end up in the Florida piney woods in a cabin with a man she thinks is a smuggler and with whom she knows she’s falling in love.

Rand Washburn doesn’t know quite what to think about this pretty English woman who’s been kidnapped and left at his cabin to help him around the homestead as he recovers from a fever (some of Rand’s friends aren’t too bright). But one thing he does know is that she’s not who she says she is and that he could get used to having her around. What he doesn’t need is her complicating his smuggling enterprise and getting caught spying on him and his contacts necessitating a quick marriage to save her life.

You’ve created two more strong characters who butt heads a lot and scrap to the end but who are a great deal of fun to watch. Rand will come across as an overbearing oaf at times but Julia is strong enough so that he never really steam rolls her. This book should really be read as a farce and not taken too seriously. I keep saying that and hope that I’m viewing this the way you intended. Some of the plot has to be accepted and not looked at too closely but if you’re willing to just roll with it, it’s a lot of fun. Again, I enjoy the wealth of detail about homestead life in Territorial Florida and its history. Some of it could have been blended into the story a little better but it’s not handled that badly.

One thing that does bother me is that late in the game the heroine keeps insisting that the hero has ruined their chance at happiness because he lied to her. Well, she was lying to him all along too but seems to conveniently forget this when it suits her. But you do teach us readers how to cook up a possum so’s to make a man sit up and say howdy! Occasionally my borzoi will catch a possum in our backyard but I don’t think I’m going to try cooking it, though. The prequel to this called Pirate’s Price which is about Julia’s parents. B for you.

~Jayne

REVIEW: Ebook Weekly: Liquid Silver Publisher Review

Jane — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 22:00:11 +0000

The original Liquid Silver post was eaten up by something. I’ll blame it on computer gremlins.

CONTEST:

Join the newsletter and you’ll get entered into the drawing. If you are already a memeber they are still eligible for the drawing. Just send me an email at jane @ dearauthor.com saying you will join or are already a member.

1) Is there any place for a reader to “redownload” a previously purchased book?

Not at the moment. We are in the process of upgrading our shopping cart, which will let readers do this. Readers who want to download another copy of their purchase, or need a different format, can email us at support@liquidsilverbooks.com

2) Are there any plans in the future to maintain a “library” of purchases?

Yes! This is one of the many improvements we’re working on for our new shopping cart. The new cart will let readers keep a backlist of their purchases on the site, and provide a more flexible shopping system.

3) What do you think of buying plans (i.e., reader bookclubs)?

We love this idea! Once we have the new cart in place, we’re going to be looking at implementing some kind of plan. We strive to be reader-friendly, so look for a new and exciting shopping experience on our site in the next year or so.

4) What are the print plans for your books?

Currently, 30 of our books are in print, and we have plans in the works for around 20 – 30% of our books to be available in the near future. In the past, we’ve printed books for conventions and author requests. But, thanks to reader suggestions, we’re also looking at printing our best-sellers year-round.

5) How would you define yourself as a publisher?

Good question. As it says on our home page, we publish Erotic romance, distinctive, classy and HOT. And I think we do a wonderful job of making that happen. We strive for excellence in our books — the authors we choose to publish with us, our editors, and the artists who create our covers, and I believe we’ve pretty much hit our mark. That’s not to say there’s no room for improvement, there always is, but I believe when you pick up a Liquid Silver Book, you’re getting the cream of the epublishing crop.

If you look at our quality, at the number of awards our books have won, at the number of our authors who are being wooed by New York publishers, you’ll see we have a pretty darn good base on which we can and will grow on.

We’ve got some exciting things in the works, for our current and new readers, for our current authors, and any new author who is thinking about joining our family.

6) Why isn’t the payment forms known until you check out?

You know, nobody’s ever asked us this before! As I’ve said, we’re working on upgrading and improving our shopping cart this year, so look for that to be part of it.

7) Are there any books you would like featured in the article?

Last year, we gathered up our authors to write two-author books centered around the signs of the Zodiac. This is an amazing series that brought together authors of every genre. Some of the books were connected, for example, Zodiac: Aquarius has a secondary character that both books share; while others are connected only by the sign.

These books are currently available as ebooks, but look for them in print starting in July. We combined the stories by their element, and will be releasing a four-book series: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.

We’re also going to be launching a new line at Liquid Silver: Molten Silver. In this new line, our authors are going to be exploring the naughtier side of erotic romance, pushing the envelope and letting our readers enjoy their deepest, darkest fantasies. We’ve been refered to as a sweet erotica publisher, and yes, I think some of our stories still have a sweet nature to them, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with this new line. We’ve maintained the quality we’re known for and our decision to go for story and plot over just sex, while still amping up the sexual content to such a degree, I know these books are going to be flying off the virtual shelves.

Many of our books have won awards from review sites and contests, and our cover artists have won awards. Check out the Award Thread in our forum to get a better idea of our successes. Be sure to check us out at liquidsilverbooks.com and visit our forum at liquidsilverbooks.com/forums.