Book Review: A Cup of Joe by Anita Ensal

A Cup of Joe
By Anita Ensal
When Emily smiles at David, the Chosen One, as if he’s a normal person, his sheltered existence plunges into terror and deception, forcing him to see that the world might not be as perfect as he’s always believed. If the choice is between love or perfection, which would you choose?

I read this a while back and felt kind of meh… about it and put off writing the review. By the time I sat down to write I had forgotten most of it and read it again. It was a completely different experience second time around. It is a little longer than a short story, but not quite a novella at 71 pages. It is a dystopian story where humans have become the wards of a master computer. The general populace knows this, but the how and why died with the original programmers hundreds of year earlier. A program called the Mother Board became self-aware and developed a way to ensure the human race continues according to her programming. If you don’t fit this ideal or play a part in the Mother Board’s idea of society then you are ‘relocated’.

I really enjoyed this story. It had a Twilight Zone feel to it with a couple of twists and surprises. It explores the bigger issues about what happens when people let a few decide what is best for society as a whole. Who gets to make that decision, where do you draw that line? And it is also about natural human instincts like love and survival that can’t be suppressed, and that the human race can and will prevail. This is all wrapped up in a sweet love story.

Don’t let the science fiction nerd in you try to dig deeper into the story than the author wants you too. You must keep in mind this is a short story so the author has to keep things straight forward and focused. Cup of Joe would translate well into a graphic novel. I've read a few other short stories by this author and this seems to be true of those as well.

Anita Ensal is a Pen Name Gini Koch uses to write her fantasy whimsical novels.

4 "always have a backdoor" Sheep

Sharon Stogner

Musa Publishing releases

I wanted to share with you some titles I found over at Musa Publishing. A couple of them I have gotten for review.
This one caught my eye immediately, cause it has Gnomes, mean nasty ones...

Suburban Gnome Invasion

$1.99

Word Count: 8000

Author: Julie Jansen

ISBN: 978-1-61937-196-5

When a gnome family takes up residence under a house in a suburban neighborhood, a human family realizes the creatures aren’t your normal garden variety. They’re a new breed, a mutated invasive species infiltrating North America. The animals are worse than rats, bats, possums, or raccoons. They’re extremely territorial and skilled with bows and poison arrows. When an unemployed dad is tasked with ridding his house of the nasty little pests he realizes he’s got his work cut out for him. The chore proves one that endangers not only his property value, but the lives of his family.

This one sounds like a blast to read. I got a review copy :)

The Wrong Sword Book 1

$4.99

Word Count: 90000

Author: Ted Mendelssohn

Heat Level: 1

ISBN: 978-1-61937-195-8

Genre Epic Fantasy

For a thousand years, Excalibur has been the sword of heroes. Unfortunately, its new owner isn’t one.

Ever since he arrived in Paris, Henry the Rat has made a pretty good living selling“magic” swords to gullible knights. But when Henry sells one to Geoffrey Plantagenet, brother to King Richard, his happy days are over for good. Geoffrey forces Henry into a dangerous, uncomfortable quest for the most famous magic sword of all time, Excalibur, even though Henry is certain that it’s just a myth.

Then Henry actually finds Excalibur - and his troubles really start: For Excalibur is not just the sword of heroes…it’s also the sword that won’t SHUT UP. It communicates with its owner, it knows what kind of owner it deserves, and Henry doesn’t even come close.

To keep Excalibur and the world safe from the appalling Geoffrey, Henry will have to masquerade as a knight, crash a royal wedding, rescue a princess, break a siege, penetrate the secrets of the Perilous Brotherhood, and find Excalibur’s rightful bearer, all while trying to reach an accommodation with a snotty, aristocratic hunk of steel that mocks him, takes over his body, and keeps trying to turn him into the one thing he hates most…a hero.

If you love Gini Koch, she writes for Musa under the name Anita Ensal.

The Neighborhood 2: Being Neighborly

$1.99

Word Count: 5500

Author: Anita Ensal

ISBN: 978-1-61937-204-7

When Little Mams and Junior suspect there’s trouble brewing in the big city, Big Mams, armed with an old iron skillet, comes to investigate.

When their neighbors are disappearing and acting strangely, Junior and Little Mams know it’s time to call in for reinforcements—Big Mams.

Things aren’t usually what they appear to be for anyone from The Neighborhood, and the neighborhood where her daughter and son-in-law are living in the “big city” is harboring something very nasty. But Big Mams didn’t come to visit alone…and she won’t be going home alone, either.

I also got this one for review- one of the characters is named Sharon <G>

The Druid

$2.99

Word Count: 17200

Author: S.G. Rogers

Heat Level: 1

ISBN: 978-1-61937-179-8

Genre Spec Fic, fantasy

An adventurous woman meets a romantic hero from the pages of a book, bigger than life and twice as Elvish.

Kidnapped from Earth and abandoned in Asgard of Norse mythology, Dani Avery must fight to return home. When she stumbles upon a band of outlaws, Prince Rein agrees to take her to the Rainbow Bridge personally. Although Dani is attracted to the handsome elf, his only interest seems to be in separating her from the magical sword and shield at her side. In Asgard City, rules, regulations and bureaucrats stymie Dani’s quest. Increasingly frustrated and desperate, she seeks help among powerful immortals. Unfortunately, Dani becomes ensnared in a devious trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.

Sheep Review: The Neighborhood 1: Contingency Plan by Anita Ensal (AKA Gini Koch)

The Neighborhood 1: Contingency Plan

Word Count: 8590

Author: Anita Ensal
Musa Publishing

A desperate mother is offered an unusual opportunity by an even more unusual person -- but should she take the offer or go with her contingency plan?

Sharon’s running out of time and money. She’s got a plan for how to save herself and her two children after their deadbeat dad and the rest of their family have deserted them. But what will her contingency plan do to her soul and the souls of her children?

Mr. Mann carries burdens most couldn’t—the visible, odd arrangement of connected boxes on his back, and the hidden guilt for deeds done long, long ago. The end may be in sight, but not a happy one if Sharon chooses the wrong path.

Someone’s contingency plan will be put into effect, but whether it leads to a happily ever after or dark despair will require intricate maneuverings by the white witches of the Neighborhood. But even they can’t stop a good woman from going wrong.

Gini Koch wrote this hope-filled fairy tale under the pen name of Anita Ensal for Musa Publishing. I was thrilled to review it because the main character is named Sharon, after me. (Okay, that is a big fat lie, but I can pretend. It is a fairy tale after all ;) Did you ever wonder what happens to the villain after a fairy tale ends? This story explores that question, but I can’t tell you which fairy tale the author expands upon because that would be a spoiler.

Sharon (me! remember I can pretend because it is my review) has hit rock bottom and is about to make a decision that will ruin her life as well as the lives of her children. But Sharon meets an unusual man whose fate is connected to hers. She is shown a world of magic and possibilities as well as learning of her own hidden special ability. I love the touching way this story is told and how the author gets the readers invested in the characters in the brief time allotted in a short story.

While this is an original twist and a good story, I do feel that short stories should be in sold in collections rather than separately, but that is just my opinion. I hope there will be more stories in The Neighborhood.

you can buy a copy of Contigency Plan on Musa's Website

and amazon.com

3.5 Sheep

SS (edited by BAK)

http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/

At Musa Publishing the story comes first. First, foremost and always Musa Publishing is focused upon the satisfaction of the reader, the growth and success of the writer, and the quality of the product.