Novelspot

Turning the life of one of the country's iconic women into chick lit is nonsensical at best, exploitive at worst, yet Eve Pollard, author of the 1971 biography Jackie has done, or attempted to do, just that.

The 'story' begins at the moment that Jackie Kennedy is about to lay her husband, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, into the ground. Not only has she lost her husband, she has lost the defining stamp of her life and must now, quite literally, find out who she is meant to be for the rest of it. The struggle is only complicated further as the truth of JFK's perfidy is revealed; Jackie must come to grips with the possibility that her marriage was a sham. As the country is devastated by two more assassinations, that of Martin Luther King Jr. and her brother-in-law, Robert Kennedy, she is infused with a growing fear for the life of her children as well as her own and she looks for a haven. Pollard offers that Jackie became an operative for the CIA, which led to her involvement with Onassis and her eventual marriage to him.

The contention, offered as it is amidst the context of Jackie's fear and search for identity, could almost be accepted. Unfortunately, the author had, earlier in the story, contorted fact so out of proportion, that any of her historical suppositions are, from that point on, rendered unbelievable.

Overstepping the bounds of historical fiction, Pollard manipulated the truth of Marilyn Monroe's death, stating that it took place on the one-year anniversary of JFK's death. In truth the famous movie star died before he did. The huge dichotomy seemed too much of a distortion, too desperate an act; one done solely to make the case of JFK as an adulterer (not that it's needed) worse. Unfortunately, the misinformation hurts the author more than it helps; suddenly all her facts are suspect and her motivation questionable.

The book reads more non-fiction than fiction: it's written in the past tense instead of the literary present and it abounds with flashback after flashback. The fictional plot is weak and hard to believe on an illusory level. Wrapped in a bright pink book jacket with 'chick lit' art, the work is not to be taken seriously. Interest in the dynamic, charismatic and enigmatic Jackie Kennedy Onassis is better served by the hundreds of other books available.

Donna Russo Morin
© November 2006

A familiar song bemoans the fact that “some guys have all the luck.” The song might have been written about Quentin Fletcher, Marquess of Devon. Like most friends of the "constantly charmed," Devon’s have had enough of his constant winning at cards and beautiful belles basically falling at his feet. Lord Alton and John Willoughby, come up with a plan to show Devon that he isn’t a demi-god in Jane Toombs’ latest novel, A Beguiling Intrigue.

Justine Riggs is the son her father always wanted. As a motherless, only child, she learns to shoot, do sums and outride any man in the county. Her riding ability, and her anonymity from living in the country, makes her the perfect candidate for the friends’ scheme. The intelligent and beautiful woman is excited about a scheme to bring down a man who thinks women are little more than arm candy. The only problem with the hoax is that to strike the final blow she must reveal herself to be female to the watching crowd. The very thought is terrifying because she longs to be a female in the truest fashion instead of the girl-boy she contrived to be to please her now dead father. The end will not only bring down Devon, but any hopes she has for entering society.

The tall, blonde haired Devon realizes his friends’ hoax when Justine stops a runaway carriage during the race. A close examination reveals the jockey to be not only female, but also an enticing, even exotic woman. He hides his attraction under gruff words and insults that only rile Justine. He figures in the end, he’ll never see her again despite his initial reaction to her. It is just as well because Justine is far from the biddable females he prefers.

Mrs. Baldwin, owner of the runaway carriage, decides to reward Justine at the urging of her plain speaking coachman. In the widow’s opinion, what Justine needs is a husband to prevent her from dressing up in boy’s clothes and riding astride. The only way to snag a husband is to take young Justine under her wing and introduce her into society where she is sure to bump into likely candidates, even the irksome Devon.

Justine is a feisty heroine who has lived a false life to appease her father. It is good to see Justine fight for her own happiness. During the fight, she manages to strip Devon of commonly held false assumptions about women and Devon mellows from a conceited coxcomb to an intelligent, observant man.

The outspoken coachman is a notable secondary character as well as the slightly scattered Mr. Odgen Stewart. The dream sequences actually added confusion to the plot as opposed to illuminating inner struggles of the heroine, Justine.

A Beguiling Intrigue is true, sweet regency with the usual inhabitants of the ton. The twist is the lively heroine Justine who is far from ordinary. I would recommend this book to all Regency fans.

Reviewed by Morgan
Copyright © November 2006

What would you do if you decided what you do, what you are, made you too dangerous for the person you love to be around? Would you give up that person or would you try to hide those things that made you dangerous? And if you left, could you stay away knowing that you had left your soul mate behind? Then, of course, what if your soul mate wasn’t all that you believed them to be? There is all of this and more in Ravyn Wilde’s new Christmas quickie Unholy Magic.

Franco was a werewolf and not just any werewolf, but one that worked for COMM, the world’s only preternatural police force. Controlling Creatures of Myth took the responsibility of policing the preternatural world seriously and Franco did the same. But he was planning on living a lie; he would take a leave of absence from his job and tell Tehya, his mate that he was an orphan, explaining his family was just way too complicated. He had already tried living without her, so now he would tell her anything to be back with her again. While he may give up his family during Tehya’s lifetime, he could never give up his job. He would become a traveling salesman.

Tehya knew coming back to the cabin in the mountains was a mistake after she got there. It didn’t bring her the peace and tranquility that it had in the past. Now it just bore all the memories of the times she and Franco had spent there. Why had he left her and without a word? Just that bit of overheard phone conversation told her it was his job that took him away but for six months?

While it took Tehya a few minutes to realize that not all the pain she felt was hers, it was more than her Native American background that put her in touch with Mother Earth. Mother Earth was suffering and it was the taint of unholy magic, of being used for evil that caused Mother Earth’s suffering. No one in her family knew that the Mother spoke to her or that at the age of twelve Tehya was given a totem animal to call upon. Tehya knew that someone needed to check out what was going on and that it was going to have to be her. It was time that her family saw her for what she was: a full-fledged member of her clan with all that entailed.

When Tehya finds the source of Mother Earth’s suffering, she realizes that she needs help. She decides to gather up as much information as she can and find help. Franco having made it to the cabin follows her trail into the mountains. He arrives at the caverns in time to help Tehya escape the guards there.

Now it’s not only Tehya and Franco’s future on the line but maybe the whole preternatural world. Will Tehya’s family accept Franco? Can Franco accept Tehya into his world as someone to stand at his side? Can Tehya get both her family and Franco to accept her abilities and not treat her as someone too fragile to live in the real world?

On one hand, I’m not real fond of the quickie type story. They are always too short. On the other hand, I love Ravyn Wilde’s stories so I was truly debating on whether or not I should get Unholy Magic. Let me say that I'm sincerely glad I did. This was one of the best quickie type stories I have read in a long time. In some ways I didn’t feel that this was a short story in that the plot had enough movement and twists so that I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. On the other hand, the story was short enough that I went “damn, it’s over already!” and wanted more right away.

In my case, I get to go back and read the previous two books since I some how missed them. So yes, this is one of those books I’m going to recommend to all my friends and if you’ve missed it, grab it up as soon as you can. Fast action, hot sex, and a sweet love story; what more can you ask for?

 
Reviewed By Theresa
© November 2006

Poetic justice is when the antagonist gets what is coming to him. Superb poetic justice is when it happens in an unexpected, even twisted, manner. That’s what Linda Latimer deals out in Whiskey Shot 3. The anthology includes “Adultery,” “The Annoying Jingle,” and “Perfect Seclusion.”

In "Adultery", Marissa finds herself embarking in an affair with her chauvinistic neighbor, Brad. Despite his perfect body, he manages to turn her off with cruel comments about both of their unaware spouses. Brad and Marissa decide to check out an old historical mansion together. When Brad decides it would be great fun to play around with the shackles on the wall, Marissa decides she has had enough. Lucky for Brad, there seems to be a stream of women to replace his absentee playmate. It could be his luck is about to turn.

In "The Annoying Jingle", Joyce is tired of being taken for granted by her demanding slob of a husband, Mitch. Every day he comes home expecting his fried dinner promptly on the table. In fact, Mitch expects a lot, and never seems to notice how hard Joyce works to provide the life he prefers. Joyce is fed up with his expectations, his ingratitude, even his jingling the change in his pocket. She devises the perfect scheme to spotlight how hard she works while bringing her husband to heel—and it involves handcuffs.

In "Perfect Seclusion", an unnamed woman suffers as she lives with a demanding and verbally abusive husband. Her only relief is writing in her journal and the contemplation of seascapes. After her husband destroys her journal, she realizes it is time to capture the dream of perfect seclusion.

After reading all three stories, a common theme emerges—women abused by men. Marissa is ignored by her husband and berated by her would-be lover. Joyce is under-valued by her husband, Mitch. The last woman is old before her time, dried out from treatment her husband provides. It doesn’t look good for the male gender. Linda Latimer provides a happy ending for the women. The men on the other hand need to be taught a serious lesson.

The stories are extra short leaving no opportunity for back-story or fleshing out the character. The question I wanted answered most was how the seemingly nice, intelligent woman ended up with brutish men. My question went unanswered. There was an element of the melodramatic, but on the plus side, the women provided their own rescues. Kudos to Latimer for giving us strong women.

Whiskey Shot 3 is an interesting anthology, despite having rough edges. It shows promise, but could benefit from being longer to answer my nagging question and to develop the characters.
Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© December 2006

He walks alone, a being of darkness, one with a remorseless hunger for human blood. Yet despite his very nature, that which marks him out as different and damned, Thorne strives along with others of his kind to maintain a code of conduct, to limit their damage upon an unsuspecting humanity. But others of his ilk, renegades and rogues, are not bound by such niceties. They feed and kill wantonly, without remorse. Inevitably, these two groups must clash. Thorne finds himself right in the middle of it all. And, there is worse to come.

Vampires are loose upon the world! There are both good and bad ones – not to mention the evil imitators, those who are bent upon trying to gain immortal life through any means available, however detestable. Thorne, a member of the Kind, those supernatural creatures who have banded together in an attempt to control the chaos, thinks his job is to hunt down those who wish to remain outside the Kind, to either persuade them to join the group, or face extermination if they won't stop their evil ways. But Thorne ultimately faces an even greater problem when a serial killer strikes...

Addison Thorne is a loner by nature and circumstances. Being a creature of the night, allergic to sunshine, he carries on a singular existence. We first meet him sipping blood from a member of his "herd," the accountant, Foster. Thorne does not carry this too far, for he is a member of the Kind, those vampires who believe that draining their victims dry and thus killing them is wrong. When he finishes feeding, Thorne wills the unsuspecting Foster to sleep, to forget everything that has occurred. Although weak, the man will recover and live a normal life, until Thorne needs him once more.

Completing his blood meal, Thorne goes to his job at the copy center where he works. Not really a sociable type, he communicates as little as possible with his surly coworkers, except for the occasional bit of acrimonious banter. One of those coworkers is a woman named Susan. Later, at home, while trying to sleep in his boarding room, Thorne receives a phone call from a fellow member of the Kind, Thorne's superior, Flanagan. He meets with Flanagan and the vampire informs Thorne that another rogue vampire, one who refuses to become a member of the Kind, has been located. It is Thorne's job to find and deal with him.

The story segues periodically to introduce us gradually to a stranger, an unknown man who seems intent upon some action. Slowly, it becomes clear that the man is bent on murder, wanting to drink the blood of his victims in order to forcibly convert himself into a vampire and gain immortality.

Meanwhile, Thorne undertakes his assigned task to locate the rogue vampire. He quits his job at the copy center to work undercover, in the guise of a partner to Ted Brewer, an ambulance driver and paramedic. While doing this, Thorne confirms that Ted preys upon those in auto accidents, draining them of their blood and killing them. Ted is the rogue vampire. Thorne confronts Ted, tries to persuade him to join the Kind, and when he refuses, Thorne is forced to kill him. There is no alternative. By their risky and extreme behavior, rogues threaten the safety of the more compassionate Kind.

Returning to his own home, Thorne receives a telephone call and letter from a Detective Lanyard with the San Simian Police Department. Susan, his annoying coworker, has been murdered, her body drained of blood. It evolves that the detective suspects Thorne, because he is the only one without a "rock solid" alibi. Despite Thorne's attempts to fabricate one, Detective Lanyard is becoming ever more convinced that Thorne is his man.

At this point, Thorne reaches a crucial decision. He must find out who the serial killer is, why he's doing what he's doing, and somehow stop him. If not, growing complications with the police could entrap him, ensnare him in a widening web of problems, which could result in his being unmasked as a vampire. More importantly, it could have terrible repercussions for all those of the Kind. Thorne must find the killer before the world becomes aware of the Kind.

As stories go, I found Thorne, a novel by Patrick Welch, to be well written. Patrick shows a flair for description and mood setting, and knows how to build a suspense thriller. If I had any problem with this story, it is that for me it was an unrelieved dark piece, and although the characters were quite real for me, they are almost invariably not a very likeable set of people. Even the main character, Thorne himself, although a creature of conscience, comes across as not someone with whom I would personally want to identify, a humorless person at best. One other slight problem I had with the story and this was just a personal thing that bothered me, was the use of the city name, San Simian. Simian refers to apes, and so San Simian kept coming across as Saint Ape to me. I kept stumbling over this every time I saw it. I think using San Simeon, or some other spelling variation, might just be a better way to go.

Still, as such tales are told, and despite the constantly dark and somewhat dreary nature of this piece, the writing is good, the plot is well constructed, and the story held my interest. Patrick Welch shows talent. I would recommend Thorne to readers who enjoy fantasy detective stories.

Reviewed By Rob Shelsky
© November 2006

The Season of Silver This book, that takes you to the spot where part one left off and yet no time seems to have pass when you enter its pages again, is indeed a rare treasure.

Ms. McGathy offers a story told in a way that brings to mind the way stories were meant to be expressed: by a master storyteller. Yet she is able to present this in the form of the written word. A feat not easily accomplished for what is written is not always conveyed well orally and vice versa. But here you feel as if you are the old man (the story teller), and alternately also the attendant to his circle of listeners. As for who the storyteller is… Ah, but that is a treat you must discover on your own.

So what goes on in these pages I loftily praise? In Book one, a Kingdom is destroyed, and the sole survivors are an infant, and a soldier suddenly told he must raise this child. Kept in a place away from the world and hidden in magic, there are only the two of them. Yet there is one other person who seems to be linked to them, by some way of magic through a simple pond. They end up meeting one another and must go on a quest; one where neither one is really sure what they are looking for.

Book Two has them landing in different places, and in different times but all linked to the quest. Bit by bit they find them selves back together and slowly they are able, like a huge puzzle, to put things together. Will they all work together, or will the risk of possible loss of friends caused splinters and heroics instead?

There are the standard expectations of fantasy and will not disappoint. Elves, swords, magic, hidden kingdoms, magical creatures of all types, and dangers around every corner abound. Yet it is presented in a way that is new and refreshing. I feel as if I am discovering fantasy anew. There is not just one quest but numerous ones, by multiple characters. Yet there is no confusion as to who is whom.

If I were to have any complaints, it is that I wish things were described a bit more richly and the story a bit longer, so I need not leave that world so soon. The Season of Silver is a wonderful read

Reviewed by Nancy Louise
© December 2006

Laura Schellhardt's Screenwriting for Dummies is the first book I have read on screenwriting and it is definitely a good introduction.

Screenwriting for Dummies is a thorough how-to guide to screenwriting in five parts. In the first one, the reader is encouraged to learn to think visually, and the author gives useful tips on how to prepare for that.

In the second part, Schellhardt deals with structure and the explanations are followed by examples. Advice is given also on how to develop one's idea into a story, how to construct dynamic dialogue, and there is also a full chapter on character building.

The author is approaching screenwriting as a craft, and she gives valuable advice on what to look out for when going to the cinema in order to learn from others. She also explains how to write a synopsis, how to match the story to your audience, how to create the backstory, the conflict, and she even addresses the responsibility involved in screenwriting.

In the third part, the author deals with the process of turning the story into a script, surviving writer's block, formatting the text, creating the first draft, the rewrites, and there is also a chapter on adaptation and collaboration.

The fourth part addresses virtually all the tasks involved in selling your screenplay, from pre-marketing considerations, to pitches, failure and success. She also gives information on copyright and the protection of one's work.

Laura Schellhardt tells the reader the truth about several screenwriting myths; teaches about form, technique and discipline, and she also gives an introduction to a number of directors and films that he needs to become familiar with. She provides the reader with invaluable information on the business itself. For example what you need to know to find an agent or how to try to succeed without one.

Screenwriting for Dummies can be used as a reference book, and it has content that even experienced screenwriters can find relevant. For beginners, it is definitely a very helpful guide with clear explanations, useful tips, examples and writing projects.

Reviewed By Ilona Hegedus
© December 2006

If I were given a second chance at a past love because of the hurt I suffered I don’t know that I would want to risk that kind of hurt again. Would you? That is question that Rachel faces in Dahlia Rose’s Love and Lights.

For the first time in three years Rachel has come home to New York at the request of her parents. When she arrives a couple of days before Christmas she finds that her parents have taken off on a last minute cruise and none other than her ex-lover Victor Cantrell house sitting. When she decides to return to Atlanta, she finds that the airport has been closed because of the blizzard hitting the city. The situation leaves her no choice but to stay in her parent’s home with the man who broke her heart that Christmas Eve so many years before. Even though Rachel wants nothing to do with Victor, she can’t stand to see him suffer

Victor now realizes that he should have never pushed Rachel away. It has taken him almost dying to show him that his love for Rachel has never faded in all their time apart. As a member of New York’s SWAT team and a bomb tech he has seen what the wives go through when their husbands don’t come home. Rather than have Rachel suffer that fate, he pushed her away.

Can Rachel forgive Victor for his callous disregard of her heart? Can Victor convince Rachel that their love is worth a second chance? With a little help from Rachel’s parents and a little Christmas spirit Victor plans on doing just that.

This was my first book by both this author and publisher and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Love and Lights is a short, sweet love story with a heartwarming touch of Christmas spirit. Both Rachel’s fiery temper and Victor’s vulnerability made this story a pleasure to read. If all of Dahlia Rose’s stories draw you into the world of her characters so easily then she will be an author to watch. I know that I will be looking out for more Dahlia Rose books.

Reviewed By Theresa
© December 2006

In 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover, T.K. Sheils takes the traditional 'cozy' with its amateur 'tec, closed environment and limited range of suspects, to sea. The unlucky ship Hephaestus, full of Canadians, leaves Cozumel, Mexico, on a Caribbean cruise. A corpse, a stowaway and some cruise contest winners who can't remember entering any contest are aboard.

Stowaway Hunter Knox, Canadian actor and petty con man, goes to the exercise area of the ship to replenish his wardrobe from the lockers. He left Cozumel quickly, wearing a port official’s uniform over a pair of shorts and shirt. His brown shoes were not mates. [Forget the murder. Mystery 1: Why does anyone, even one leaving Cozumel quickly, have on mis-mated shoes?] While in the locker room, he finds a pair of sandals and talks to an elderly, confused naked man who says he has been poisoned.

In the ship's bar, Hunter is picked up by Loraine, beautiful, blonde, rich, big-busted and divorced. Loraine has a genuinely original pick-up line: she asks about his boxers. Confused, he thinks she thinks he's a boxer and agrees that he is a boxer. She is asking about his underwear.

Loraine, clever in addition to her other attributes, has deduced that he is a stowaway: he paid for his drink in cash, claiming he had forgotten his room number. She says her companion for the cruise was forced to cancel, and offers to let him take her companion's place at dinner. (Amateur detectives come in pairs; we've now got our Tuppence.)

Hunter goes back to the locker room to find suitable dinner clothes. The elderly man is now a corpse, hanging upside down in one of the lockers. He may have been poisoned; he's also been bludgeoned, battered, strangled, garroted and stabbed. If the corpse hasn't been murdered in fifty ways, he has at least been subjected to over-kill.

Hunter finds slacks and a dinner jacket and rejoins Loraine. They find a table and discover all of their fellow diners are on the cruise as a result of winning a contest. There is an empty seat at the table and the passengers begin speculating about the missing passenger. [Mystery 2: They come in pairs. The table seats ten. Why is there one empty seat? Mystery 3. Seating is not assigned. How do they end up at the same table? Hunter attempts to answer Mystery 3. They just did.]

The next morning, the corpse has been found. So has Hunter. Accompanied by Loraine, he is interviewed by the Captain. He suggests to the Captain that he attempt to find the murder. The Captain agrees and Hunter is made a member of the entertainment division of the crew. He and Loraine begin detecting.

50 Ways to Kill Your Lover is described as a "mystery/humor". It is more successful as humor than as a mystery. Some of the rants, one-liners, puns and grotesque characters are extremely funny. If one joke doesn't work, there's a better one a sentence later.

Many of the jokes revolve around being Canadian:

"...Fred apparently is bi and bi."
"Bilingual and bicultural?"
"Only a Canadian could think of that in this situation,"

Hunter explains the difference between Canadian and American actors, one of the funniest things in the book. At its best, the humor in the book involves a sense of recognition, a skewed presentation of something ordinary--cubism translated into the music hall. Sheils, the author, is an actor, and I suspect some of the humor comes to life on a stage. .

For example, Hunter, at a hotel in one of the ports, works hotel stand-up comic. He gives a long rant proving airplanes can't fly. It goes over well. Then, aboard ship, he gives another routine proving ships can't float. I didn't think either was funny - but a good comedian could have sold it.

However, when Hunter can’t understand why the audience loved his airplane jokes and hated the ones about ships sinking, I laughed out loud.

The humor shifts from that typical of Charlotte Macleod’s mysteries to Monty Python to the funniest kid in your junior high. If you tolerate the Ministry of Funny Walks for the joys of the Spanish Inquisition, you'll probably enjoy the book - especially if you're Canadian.

If it weren't for the sex scenes, it would be a good book for your twelve-year-old nephew. Actually, a twelve year old would probably love the sex scenes and probably could have written them. The sex involves descriptions of big busts, long legs, lustful lovers and is almost a parody of an erotic scene. I didn’t find it offensive, but the mother of my twelve-year-old nephew would definitely disapprove of this as a Christmas gift for the boy.

This is a good book to take on a cruise in the Caribbean. As the ship pulls into a new port, a page or so of straightforward tourist information begins the chapter.

The book will not, however, satisfy a traditional murder mystery fan. If you expect mysteries to work like puzzles, with transparent, logical thinking and deductions, this is not the book for you. It's a 'black box' mystery. Something the detective says is a clue goes into the black box, something different comes out of the black box, and the detective says all is explained. The suspension of disbelief factor is exponential. Coincidence plays a major role in the book.

There are too many suspects, all more or less cardboard cutouts, difficult to keep straight. They have the same motive for murder. They change names frequently. They have multiple identities, Even the ship has a multiple identities.

It's well written but badly edited. Cutting about 25% of the book would improve it considerably. So would cutting the mystery element and simply presenting it as social satire. The book will not appeal to everyone. However, if you are a fan of Spike Milligan and the Goon Squad, the goodies, and Monty Python, give it a go. Especially if you are snowed in in Manitoba.

Reviewed By Wenonah Lyon
© 2007

Mirrors are such seductive creatures, are they not? Yes, creatures, like fires that we tame, they seem nothing more than what they look like: a source of something for our use. In Reflections of a Recovering Servant Steve Lazarowitz has taken the long unanswered questions of dimly remembered childhood and given them answers. Haunting ones.

I remember well, leaning against the closet mirror and looking to my left. At a certain angle you could see the reflection at the other end of the house, of the kitchen and my forever-hungry brother trying to sneak a snack. I became utterly convinced there was another world there. All the logic of my father, light bending to explain how I could see the other end of the house, did nothing to move me from my newfound faith.

Reflections of a Recovering Servant takes on that long ago, most likely forgotten exploration of children, and even adults, and adds the magical, “What if?”. What if there was a servant falsely accused of rape, ready to lose his head literally, then finding him self torn from that life. Who then now rules his life? No longer a slave to his Master’s whims, our hero Straac must find a new master. Be it him self, or another, he has no idea. But he soon learns as he navigates a life of mirrors and reflections of a learning mind.

More than just a fantasy this story is good fun with something to reflect upon for your own self. Just to whom are you a servant? To what is freedom and where does reality have a right to exist? Do not be put off by such philosophical musings as this because the reading is easy entertainment as well. Even so, you will find yourself pondering the images of Reflections of a Recovering Servant long after you have finished. Is that not the true image of a great story?

Reviewed By Nancy Louise
© December 2006

Elves, sprites: they are mysterious creatures that exist just out of our sight. No one of rational mind will acknowledge them and those who have the free spirit to do so live on the fringe of our society.

Prince of the Hollow Hills is about two sisters, with radically different points of view when it comes to all things mystical. One is a free spirit name Ivy and a wanderer as true as her name. The other is a realist to the point of fanaticism. Her name is Fern. Ivy wanders all over and covers the land with her music. Fern wishes desperately that her sister would stop being so flaky, get a real job, a real place to live, and raise her baby. Having a sister that is like their parents sets Fern’s teeth on edge.

Ivy insists her Lover must have been hurt or killed to keep from coming back to her and the baby. Fern thinks he simply blew them off as their father did them. Then one day, three things happen. Her sister seems hysterically paranoid, asks her to take care of her nephew, and gives her strange warnings. Two strangers come asking after her sister after her sister had told her she herself and the baby were in danger. Fern however refuses to believe such nonsense. Who could possibly want to harm her spaced sister and a little baby?

Too late, she finds out her sister’s warning just might have been true. Rushing to her sister's apartment after getting a vision that she tries to deny, she finds her sister dead and holding of all things, a wrench. The coroner says she was killed by a stroke at twenty-eight years of age. But doubt begins to creep into her mind. Fern desperately does not want anything to do with La La Land or the life her sister seemed to lead.

Still, if she wants any hope of keeping the only living kin, her nephew in her life, she not only must raise the child, but some how keep him from murderous beings that come from places that should not exist, and keep from falling in love with a man that should be pure fantasy.

For those of you that like spicy adventures, Prince of the Hollow Hills is a fun one with sparring going on between the two main characters. Both are so stubborn you want to clank their heads together to knock sense into them, but at the same time, you are having too much fun watching them circle one another. There are a lot of adventures and chases that are otherworldly. All the characters have dimension and are not simply on and off good / evil types. There is a good sense of place and time, and the tension is realistic.

My only complaint is that they never actually went into the Hollow Hills. The story was really more about the protectors of the prince, not the prince himself, who is an infant. Tongue in cheek, I might have called the story, “A Fern grows (unwillingly) outside the Hallow Hills.” Referring to Fern's refusal to take in all this stuff. But as stories go, Prince of the Hollow Hills is a good and fun read.

Reviewed By Nancy Louise
© December 2006

Adults are dressing up more for Halloween than ever before. There is something fun about donning a costume. A normally staid male can be a gigolo, an exotic dancer, or even a werewolf. A woman’s opportunities are endless.

Joanna Eastman, the heroine of Crimson Ties, looks forward to acting out her fantasies at the vampire costume ball. Until now, she had only met fellow partiers on-line. As a scientist for a pharmaceutical firm, Joanna is not a poster child for Vampires R Us. She cloaks her curvaceous body in a lab coat and pulls her luxurious golden brown hair into a ponytail for work. It is after work that she indulges her vampire interests by interacting on-line with others who are into vampire lore. As a scientist, she is into research and has documented sightings of vampires. Despite her data, she doesn’t totally believe. It is more like a delicious game she likes to imagine. The party is perfect for letting her inner vampire vixen out and showing off her body in form-fitting velvet.

Jessica, Joanna’s friend, hopes the ball will offer an opportunity to meet men. Joanna is sure she doesn’t want to hook up with a guy who pretends he’s Count Dracula, despite her dreams. In her dreams, her vampire lover comes to her making incredible love to her before sinking his fangs into her neck. The dreams leave her with a longing that often lasts for days. She doesn’t mention her dreams to her fiancé, but he could have sensed her distraction. Perhaps that is why James, her fiancé, left her, but that doesn’t matter now. Joanna is at the party to have fun, maybe flirt, drink some of the blood red punch, and then head home. Male friends, real or imagined, are not part of her present or future.

Anton Mahler draws women like flies as he maneuvers his tall, handsome body through the party. He spots Joanna, the woman of his dreams. Despite Jessica’s obvious attempts at flirting, he wills her away. He needs nothing between himself and his chosen one. Anton speaks to the unspoken questions in Joanna’s eyes. He senses her arousal, but her belief is suspended. She doesn’t see him for who he really is. Anton is eager to show her that her dreams can be reality.

Anton and Joanna engage in an erotic mating dance that keeps the story moving. The character of Joanna is skeptical keeping with her science background. Anton is as smooth as raw silk, a little texture for tactile stimulation. Their dance, while familiar, is far from routine. Details of the vampire web site, party, and history show research, which adds a credible feel, to an incredible proposition.

Crimson Ties is a quickie that you can sink your teeth in and walk away wanting more. The book is a definite recommend for vampire and fantasy lovers.
Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© December 2006