Book Review: The Sea Beast Takes a Lover: Stories by Michael Andreasen

The Sea Beast Takes a Lover: Stories

by Michael Andreasen

27 Feb 2018
PENGUIN GROUP
Dutton
General Fiction (Adult)

An astonishing fiction debut from a UC Irvine MFA graduate and recent contributor to The New Yorker.

Bewitching and playful, with its feet only slightly tethered to the world we know, The Sea Beast Takes a Lover explores hope, love, and loss across a series of surreal landscapes and wild metamorphoses. Just because Jenny was born without a head doesn't mean she isn't still annoying to her older brother, and just because the Man of the Future's carefully planned extramarital affair ends in alien abduction and network fame doesn't mean he can't still pine for his absent wife. Romping through the fantastic with big-hearted ease, these stories cut to the core of what it means to navigate family, faith, and longing, whether in the form of a lovesick kraken slowly dragging a ship of sailors into the sea, a small town euthanizing its grandfathers in a time-honored ritual, or a third-grade field trip learning that time travel is even more wondrous--and more perilous--than they might imagine.

Andreasen's stories are simultaneously daring and deeply familiar, unfolding in wildly inventive worlds that convey our common yearning for connection and understanding. With a captivating new voice from an incredible author, The Sea Beast Takes a Lover uses the supernatural and extraordinary to expose us at our most human.

This is me every time I try to write a review for this book. I can say I loved it. Some stories more than others, but all eleven of the short stories will make you double-take on what you thought you just read. 

Here is my inner-monologue while reading each story:
What an imaginative story. I wonder where the author is going with...wait, WTF? That's deep...the author isn't going to go there, is he? Oh, snap...he did.
I guess I would call it soft-bizarro...or Black Mirror-esque... Take a read of the blurb and you'll get an idea of the fantastical nature of the stories.

Not only are the stories thought-provoking, the writing is amazing with a poetic cadence in some stories. Andreasen takes the reader on a voyeuristic adventure of his characters. Some you'll be glad you witnessed, some will make you uncomfortable...but you will turn the page, unable to look away.

4 "headless" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:

website

Michael Andreasen holds a Masters degree in creative writing from the University of California, Irvine. His fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney's, Tin House, Zoetrope: All-Story, Quarterly West, and elsewhere. He lives in Southern California.  His first book, The Sea Beast Takes a Lover, was published in the US by Dutton Books in February 2018 and will be published in the UK by the Head of Zeus in March 2018.

Book Review: Veiled Enchantments (Veiled Magic #3) by Deborah Blake + exclusive excerpt

Veiled Enchantments (Veiled Magic #3)
by Deborah Blake

March 20, 2018

236 pages

Publisher: InterMix
In this exciting novel in the Veiled Magic series, Witch and police officer Donata Santori travels to Maine to help solve a deadly mystery, where her magical abilities are tested like never before.

Still reeling from her unwitting involvement in murder and subsequent break up with a half-Dragon art forger, Witch-cop Donata Santori is grateful for the distraction when her ex-lover requests her help. Not only are Magnus's beloved dead suddenly haunting the Ulfhednar shapechangers in his tiny rural hometown in Maine, their patron god Odin has turned his back on them, and the members of their once tight-knit enclave are at each other's throats. Literally.

Magnus is relying on Donata's experience in dealing with the gods, along with her magical ability to summon the dead, to help him unravel this mystery in time to save his clan. Donata only hopes to survive the ordeal so she can return home to the city and her quiet job at the precinct.

But first, she must discover who or what is behind the terrible attacks on the Ulfhednar. And the clock is ticking, in more ways than one...

I adore this series. Veiled Magic is an urban fantasy series detailing the adventures of witch-cop Donata Santori. In this installment, Donata travels to a tight-knit Ulfhednar (shapechanger) community in Maine at the behest of her ex Magnus. According to Magnus, members of the community’s elite trainees are being haunted by the ghosts of their dead loved ones. Additionally, the Ulfhednar clan has been seemingly abandoned by Odin, their patron god. This poses a major threat to the clan and their survival. Donata’s specialized ability to communicate with the dead and deities alike becomes an invaluable commodity in the community’s search for answers.

Donata is a likeable, strong female main character. She’s still dealing with fallout from her adventures in the previous two books, however, her unique transition into Ulfhednar territory is well-crafted. Readers of this series are familiar with Magnus from previous installments. Veiled Enchantments gives us a complete view of his character and family background. And I must say, I think I’m in love. Veiled Enchantments has something for every urban fantasy fan including action, intrigue, fantasy, and romance. This book is wholly satisfying while setting the scene for future installments. Veiled Magic is an absolute favourite urban fantasy series.

Don’t miss out on this stellar series.

Review: Veiled Magic
Review: Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2)

Five Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

Exclusive Excerpt

“O’Malley,” her boss answered. 
“Please tell me that none of your friends has set another building on fire, Santori. I’m not in the mood to make up lies for the fire department tonight.” To anyone else, this probably would have sounded intimidating, but Donata was used to dealing with the Chief, and if anything, he sounded resigned rather than peeved.

“Nope, not this time,” she said. “I’m sorry to bother you so late, sir, especially on the weekend.”

“Ha,” he said. “Tonight is my wife’s bridge night and the house is filled with women drinking cocktails with silly names and talking about TV shows I never watch. I’m hiding out in my office catching up on paperwork. Which I hate almost as much as bridge. Feel free to interrupt me. A nice bizarre case might be a relief at this point.”

“Sorry again, sir. No cases, bizarre or otherwise.” She took a deep breath. “I, uh, I know it is short notice, but I wondered if I could have a week off. Maybe two. Um, starting Monday morning.” She braced herself for the yelling. And possibly a few choice curse words.

There was a brief but noticeable pause on the other end of the phone. “You want to take time off,” the Chief said carefully.

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry about not putting in for it ahead of time, but an old friend showed up tonight who needs my help. Needs my particular talents, if you know what I mean, so he can’t really ask anyone else.”

“Good,” the Chief said. “Take two weeks. Make it three if you need to.”

What the hell? “I’m sorry, what?” Donata said. That was definitely not the reaction she’d been expecting. Oh, goddess, what if he had finally decided that all the weird things she’d dragged to the surface were just too weird after all? “Are you firing me, sir?”

A sigh gusted down the line. “Did I say I was firing you, Santori?” She could hear him crunch down on one of the pencils he regularly chewed on since he’d quit smoking. “You have so much vacation time and sick time built up, HR is always on my ass about getting you to take some. Not to mention that you’ve been through a lot in the past year. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how tired you’ve been looking. To be honest, I was going to sit you down next week and order you to put in for a vacation sometime soon. You just saved me the trouble of doing it.”

Great. “If you’re sure, Chief.”

“When am I not sure about things, Santori? Now do me a favor, and stop arguing with me,” he said, and hung up on her.

Huh. Well, that was one problem down.

“So, I take it you can have the time off,” Magnus said with a grin. With his Shapechanger hearing, he’d undoubtedly caught every word of both sides of the conversation. “Great. I’ll help you pack.”

“Not so fast. I need to call my friend Doc and see if she can feed the cat.”

Ricky appeared in the space by Donata’s knees, making her jump, as usual.

“I’m staying here, Missus,” he said. “Someone has to look after the place while you’re gone. I’ll feed the cat, no worries. Just stock the fridge before you leave. I can always swipe food from the neighbors, but they eat too much bad Thai takeout.”

“If you’re certain you don’t mind,” Donata said.

“I’m certain,” the little man said. “You go and have fun with Magnus. You could use a break.”

Right, Donata thought. Because trying to wrangle a bunch of ghosts in a town full of antagonistic Shapeshifters while attempting to track down their missing god sounds like a day at the beach. What was really sad was that, after the year she’d had, it probably would be.

About this Author:

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Author of seven non-fiction books from Llewellyn. Circle, Coven & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice (2007), Everyday Witch A to Z (2008), The Goddess is in the Details (2009), Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook (2010) Witchcraft on a Shoestring (2010), Everyday Witch Book of Rituals, and The Witch's Broom. I am also the author of the Baba Yaga series from Berkley Romance, including Wickedly Magical (novella), Wickedly Dangerous, and Wickedly Wonderful.

When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker, tarot reader, and energy healer. She lives in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.

Interview: Cass Morris, author of FROM UNSEEN FIRE + giveaway

Alternate-history and historical fantasy is en vogue for TV and film, as well as books lately. Are there any historical or alternative-historical TV / films / books that influenced your writing?
Cass: Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series had a major influence on me. I loved the scope of the alternate world she imagined, flavored by the real history of dozens of nations and cultures, but interwoven with her own magical paradigm. I’ve always liked big worlds in the fiction I consume, and hers felt so fully-drawn and complete. That sense of the epic features in a lot of the stories that have influenced me over time -- Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials, The Sandman, A Song of Ice and Fire -- if it has a massive map and a cast of thousands, I’m probably all for it.

As far as straight-up historical influence goes, HBO’s Rome was playing in the background during a lot of the drafting of From Unseen Fire. The creators of that show said in one of their behind-the-scenes featurettes that they were looking to re-create an authentic ancient Rome, even though they knew they weren’t being completely accurate, since they fudged timelines and merged characters together for storytelling purposes. I think they totally succeeded. Their Rome looked like a real city, so full of people, always busy, and so complex. Those images are definitely a lot of what I had in mind while crafting the city of Aven.

How did you go about researching the setting for FROM UNSEEN FIRE? Did you travel?
Cass: I looked at so. many. maps. Which was great! I love cartography. It’s shockingly difficult to find maps of Rome from the Republic era, though; almost everything is Imperial, because so much of the Forum was destroyed and rebuilt over time, so archaeology has a much easier time figuring out what it looked like in, say, 300 CE than 30 BCE. I also scoured the internet for every picture of reconstructions I could find -- the Getty Villa has some gorgeous images of a reconstructed Roman country house, interior and exterior, and there are a surprising number of Roman legion re-enactment groups. And yes, I did travel. I’d been to Rome once before, as a teenager, and in 2016 I was lucky enough to be able to go back. There’s nothing quite like walking the very hills and streets your characters would have!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Cass: I’ve been a natural storyteller and a lover of books for as long as I’ve known what words were, but I can remember, clearly, the first moment I knew that creating worlds was what I wanted to do with my life. It was January, 1997. I was eleven years old, sitting in a movie theatre with a sticky floor, having just seen Star Wars for the first time. I was in utter awe. And I thought, “This is it. This is what I want to do.” I don’t know that I even knew what I meant by that at the time, whether writing books or working on movies or some other way of building worlds. That moment, though, was absolutely when I realized that I wanted to spend my life shaping universes that other people could both lose and find themselves in. I’ve been working towards that ever since.

How did participating in NaNoWriMo affect the writing of FROM UNSEEN FIRE?
Cass: My method of Nanoing is highly chaotic. I write whatever scenes occur to me without much worry about how they fit together. As a result, during that initial drafting, I ended up with way more material than was useable. Aside from the things that ended up getting ditched entirely in rewrites or things that got moved from Book One to Books Two and Three, there were also stray plotlines taking place in Abydosia (Egypt) and Armorica (Gaul/France) that I really loved, but which ended up not fitting the main narrative. I was trying to cram too many plotlines into too few pages! So I’ve ended up editing a lot of that out of From Unseen Fire and perhaps from the entire Aven Cycle, but I’m very much hoping I’ll have use for it at some other time.

Who are your biggest writing influences?
Cass: I used to say that I wanted to be Neil Gaiman when I grew up, and that’s still rather true. His writings, and Terry Pratchett’s, have affected a lot of how I think about story and mythos. My ideas on crafting magic have roots in everything from Harry Potter to tabletop role-playing games. Years of studying Shakespeare has put a lot of rhetoric in my head, so that’s been a large influence as well. I’ve also read a lot of romance novels and a lot of historical fiction, and I think those bleed into my style, too.

From Unseen Fire (Aven Cycle) 

by Cass Morris

April 17, 2018
400 pages

Publisher: DAW

The Dictator is dead; long live the Republic. 

But whose Republic will it be? Senators, generals, and elemental mages vie for the power to shape the future of the city of Aven. Latona of the Vitelliae, a mage of Spirit and Fire, has suppressed her phenomenal talents for fear they would draw unwanted attention from unscrupulous men. Now that the Dictator who threatened her family is gone, she may have an opportunity to seize a greater destiny as a protector of the people -- if only she can find the courage to try.

Her siblings--a widow who conceals a canny political mind in the guise of a frivolous socialite, a young prophetess learning to navigate a treacherous world, and a military tribune leading a dangerous expedition in the province of Iberia--will be her allies as she builds a place for herself in this new world, against the objections of their father, her husband, and the strictures of Aventan society.

Latona's path intersects with that of Sempronius Tarren, an ambitious senator harboring a dangerous secret. Sacred law dictates that no mage may hold high office, but Sempronius, a Shadow mage who has kept his abilities a life-long secret, intends to do just that. As rebellion brews in the provinces, Sempronius must outwit the ruthless leader of the opposing Senate faction to claim the political and military power he needs to secure a glorious future for Aven and his own place in history.

As politics draw them together and romance blossoms between them, Latona and Sempronius will use wit, charm, and magic to shape Aven's fate. But when their foes resort to brutal violence and foul sorcery, will their efforts be enough to save the Republic they love?


About the Author:
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Cass Morris lives and works in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with the companionship of two royal felines, Princess and Ptolemy. She completed her Master of Letters at Mary Baldwin University in 2010, and she earned her undergraduate degree, a BA in English with a minor in history, from the College of William and Mary in 2007. She reads voraciously, wears corsets voluntarily, and will beat you at MarioKart. Find out more about Cass Morris online at cassmorriswrites.com.

GIVEAWAY

A print copy of From Unseen Fire

US only

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Paperback Release: The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlett + giveaway

Praise for THE SPACE BETWEEN STARS:

“Strikingly written, with very human characters and a deep concern with human frailty...an excellent debut.”—Tor.com

“Corlett offers a thoughtful examination of how individuals find meaning and fulfillment in the face of an apocalyptic event then wraps up with a thrilleresque ending.”—Booklist

“With its unique plot and luminous prose, it’s hard to believe that The Space Between the Stars is a debut novel. Anne Corlett understands the complexities and frailties of the human heart and captures it brilliantly on the page. Don’t let the setting fool you—this is a story for any age, combining love, loss, grief, hope, and possibilities all in one delicious book. Definitely one for my keeper shelf.”—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of The Night the Lights Went Out

What if the universe had to start over? Where would you go?

The Space Between the Stars

by Anne Corlett
February 6, 2018
Berkley- Penguin Group
368 pages

In a breathtakingly vivid and emotionally gripping debut novel, one woman must confront the emptiness in the universe—and in her own heart—when a devastating virus reduces most of humanity to dust and memories.

All Jamie Allenby ever wanted was space. Even though she wasn’t forced to emigrate from Earth, she willingly left the overpopulated, claustrophobic planet. And when a long relationship devolved into silence and suffocating sadness, she found work on a frontier world on the edges of civilization. Then the virus hit...

Now Jamie finds herself dreadfully alone, with all that’s left of the dead. Until a garbled message from Earth gives her hope that someone from her past might still be alive.

Soon Jamie finds other survivors, and their ragtag group will travel through the vast reaches of space, drawn to the promise of a new beginning on Earth. But their dream will pit them against those desperately clinging to the old ways. And Jamie’s own journey home will help her close the distance between who she has become and who she is meant to be.

amazon

Pamela K. Kinney reviewed The Space Between the Stars here.

About the Author:

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Anne is originally from the north-east, but somehow slid down the map and finished up in the south-west. She now lives near Bath with her partner and three young sons.

Anne returned to writing in 2011 after many years working as a criminal lawyer in London. This was slightly unfortunate timing, given that she was right in the middle of relocating to Somerset with her family who seemed to feel that a little less novel-writing and a little more packing might be warranted. They probably had a point.

Over the next couple of years, Anne began to build a career as a freelance writer, fitting this work in around her day job as a solicitor. In 2012 she met her agent, Lisa Eveleigh, at the York Festival of Writing. Since then her work has been published in various magazines and anthologies and her short fiction has won, placed or been shortlisted in various national and international awards.

In 2014 Anne began an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Her initial MA novel was put on hold after a trip back up to the Northumberland coast triggered the idea for The Space Between the Stars which was acquired by Pan Macmillan in January 2016. It is due out in hardback in Spring 2017.

Giveaway

a print copy of The Space Between the Stars

(US/Can only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlett

The Space Between the Stars

by Anne Corlett
June 13, 2017
Berkley- Penguin Group
368 pages

In a breathtakingly vivid and emotionally gripping debut novel, one woman must confront the emptiness in the universe—and in her own heart—when a devastating virus reduces most of humanity to dust and memories.

All Jamie Allenby ever wanted was space. Even though she wasn’t forced to emigrate from Earth, she willingly left the overpopulated, claustrophobic planet. And when a long relationship devolved into silence and suffocating sadness, she found work on a frontier world on the edges of civilization. Then the virus hit...

Now Jamie finds herself dreadfully alone, with all that’s left of the dead. Until a garbled message from Earth gives her hope that someone from her past might still be alive.

Soon Jamie finds other survivors, and their ragtag group will travel through the vast reaches of space, drawn to the promise of a new beginning on Earth. But their dream will pit them against those desperately clinging to the old ways. And Jamie’s own journey home will help her close the distance between who she has become and who she is meant to be.

amazon

Jamie Allenby has survived a deadly virus that spread through Earth and afterwards, through the colonized planets by humanity. Unlike most science fiction where people purposely traveled to settle other worlds, in this story most have been part of a forced emigration of so-called undesirables. Before the virus, Jamie had spent over thirteen years with her lover, Daniel, on one of the highly populated planetary outposts. After a miscarriage she leaves Daniel for the planet Solitaire, working as a veterinarian for a ranch. 

Once the virus spreads, only 0.0001% survive. Jamie craved solitude and wide-open spaces, but this was not exactly how she wanted to receive it. Longing for human companionship, she leaves the rural farm for the space dock. There she meets up with two additional survivors: a former priest, Lowry, and a woman scientist, Rena, on a spiritual retreat. These three are picked up by a cargo ship heading back to the larger planetary outpost of Alegria.

The ship is captained by Callan and his engineer, Gracie. The administration on Alegria refuses to allow anyone to leave and is enforcing a "breeding" program, since so many children were killed in the outbreak. She also runs into Daniel.

Jamie convinces Callan and her shipmates to make a break for Earth but they have no idea what awaits them there. Will they find any survivors? Will they be faced with a new administration trying to enforce rules for humanity's survival?

If you are looking for a science fiction/dystopian full of action, spaceship battles, aliens, etc…then this book may not be your cup of tea. There is a spaceship going through outer space, there are other planets, and it takes place in the future, with a virus obviously made to kill people so completely, there is only dust left. But this is a character driven story about survival during this form of near apocalypse, and how they might get their heads and souls set right to move forward with living.

Most of the characters have some sort of baggage. Except maybe Finn, the autistic teenager—I enjoyed him. The plot was well thought out. The world-building is moderately done, but could have used more explanation and detail. The tech aspect was too skimpy for me.  I admit, Jamie did not sit well with me. She uses being broken to push away others who could be good for her. The title fits what Jamie thinks she wants: space. Space between her and relationships, space between her and her past that made her who she was before and after the virus. Space also fits other characters in this book. Space in connection to God and religion too.

I give The Space Between the Stars 3 ½ sheep.

Pamela K. Kinney

About the Author:

website-Instagram-twitter

Anne is originally from the north-east, but somehow slid down the map and finished up in the south-west. She now lives near Bath with her partner and three young sons.

Anne returned to writing in 2011 after many years working as a criminal lawyer in London. This was slightly unfortunate timing, given that she was right in the middle of relocating to Somerset with her family who seemed to feel that a little less novel-writing and a little more packing might be warranted. They probably had a point.

Over the next couple of years Anne began to build a career as a freelance writer, fitting this work in around her day job as a solicitor. In 2012 she met her agent, Lisa Eveleigh, at the York Festival of Writing. Since then her work has been published in various magazines and anthologies and her short fiction has won, placed or been shortlisted in various national and international awards.

In 2014 Anne began an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Her initial MA novel was put on hold after a trip back up to the Northumberland coast triggered the idea for The Space Between the Stars which was acquired by Pan Macmillan in January 2016. It is due out in hardback in Spring 2017.

Book Review: Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2) by Deborah Blake

Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2)

by Deborah Blake
April 18th 2017
by InterMix
285 pages

From the author of Veiled Magic and the Baba Yaga novels, comes an exciting new paranormal romance...

Since Witches came out of the broom-closet in the early 21st century, they have worked alongside humans as police officers, healers, stock traders, and more. But they aren’t the only paranormal entities in our world...

Witch and police officer Donata Santori is no stranger to magical mayhem, but lately her life has been unexpectedly charmed. Her job as a Ghost Yanker now includes the occasional paranormal investigation, and she’s advancing her magical abilities with the help of an ancestor’s treasured spell book. And while both of her former love interests—reclusive half-Dragon art forger Peter Casaventi and disgraced Shapechanger Magnus Torvald—are nowhere to be found, she’s not averse to being wined and dined by wealthy businessman Anton Eastman.

But Eastman isn’t what he seems, and what he wants from Donata is far more than she’s willing to give. When a mysterious relic, the Pentacle Pentimento, resurfaces, along with Peter’s Dragon father and a shocking Santori family secret, Donata must fight to save herself, her friends, and just maybe the fate of the world from a magic as old as it is dangerous.

I adored Veiled Magic, the first in this series and was quite excited to get my hands on Veiled Menace. While book two didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the first in the series, it ultimately delivered a solid urban fantasy with great momentum.

Donata Santori is a witch on police payroll. Dead men tell no tales, except to Donata who has the ability to talk to the departed. Through these spiritual visits, Donata is able to gather evidence for the good guys. She likes her work and is slowly gaining the respect and notice of her colleagues. And while witches are ‘out of the broom closet’ other paranormal races prefer to be hidden. As such, Donata must do double duty protecting the public, but also the best interests of the paranormal community. Recently, Donata finds, her dual role is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Crimes are being uncharacteristically committed by paranormals, raising suspicion of law enforcement. Donata must race against the clock to uncover the uprising all the while navigating her particularly complicated personal life.

I like a strong female mains and Dontata is no exception. She’s a talented, self-assured, witch who enjoys the occasional stiff drink. As a bit of a family black sheep, Donata is use to standing alone and is quite comfortable in her role as an independent woman. Ricky the Kobold and Cassandra Havens, the buxom coroner, are back for book two and serve as a nice compliment to Donata’s character.

In the end, while I enjoyed this read, I wasn’t quite as hooked on this second installment. The plot was fairly predictable and I wasn’t really shocked by the story’s revelations. But I like the cast of characters and the direction of Donata’s story, particularly her romantic entanglements. Nothing is too neatly woven together at the end of book two and I’m definitely anticipating the third in the series.

Review: Veiled Magic by Deborah Blake

Four Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About this Author:

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Author of seven non-fiction books from Llewellyn. Circle, Coven & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice (2007), Everyday Witch A to Z (2008), The Goddess is in the Details (2009), Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook (2010) Witchcraft on a Shoestring (2010), Everyday Witch Book of Rituals, and The Witch's Broom. I am also the author of the Baba Yaga series from Berkley Romance, including Wickedly Magical (novella), Wickedly Dangerous, and Wickedly Wonderful.

When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker, tarot reader, and energy healer. She lives in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.

Book Review: Dirty Money (Roughneck Billionaires) by Jessica Clare

Dirty Money (Roughneck Billionaires)

by Jessica Clare

January 17, 2017
198 pages

Penguin Group InterMix

Southern Texas heats up when four roughneck billionaires set their sights on love in the new series from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare.

Boone Price and his brothers know oil; at least, the dirty, backbreaking side of working an oil rig. But when their scrubby, worthless hunting land turns out to be sitting on top of one of the biggest oil wells in North America, they go from the rig to the boardroom and end up billionaires practically overnight.

Now with enough money to do whatever he wants, Boone is developing a taste for fine things. And the finest thing he's ever seen is Ivy Smithfield, local realtor. Boone's determined to win her affection and show the world that he's more than just a dirty fool with a bit of money. Ivy's classy and beautiful - she'll make the perfect trophy wife. The fact that she's sexy and funny is just a bonus.

There's one tiny problem - Ivy's as dirt poor as Boone was. Her carefully crafted veneer of luxury? All an act to promote her business. What's Boone going to do when he finds out the woman he's falling for is, well, in his league?

amazon

Wowser! You know the old story that a woman always wants to change a man after she gets him? Well how about a man who targets a woman specifically because he wants to be changed (among other things of course)? Who wouldn't love to be in Ivy's shoes when a big, burly, scruffy,determined uncouth man hones in to make her "his" in hopes that she would bring a little class to her life. OH, and did I mention he was a billionaire!

Boone is a roughneck oil driller owner who has never progressed from the attitude and culture of a guy not used to the "civilized" ways of the upper class. A little chip on his shoulder, he barrels his way through negotiations like a bull in a china shop. Speaking freely and straightforward he approaches Ivy with the same mentality that he does with everything else...refreshing to say the least. At least you know what he is thinking even if you might entertain the idea that he is a stalker or at the very least a nutcase!

And what will happen when Boone finds out "Ivy" isn't necessarily the person he thought she was?

This is a straight forward romance with straightforward dialog and plenty of "dirty talk"! Not for the squeamish literary prudes, but I for one love a quick "love" story and that's what I got. I had to keep reading and finished it in one day. Not a paranormal but definitely a fantasy read (someone's fantasy anyway!)

Getting 4 steamy, pumping sheep

Jeanie G.

About the Author:

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Clare writes under three pen names. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance. As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She also has a third pen name, because three is more fun than two. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to fairy tales gone wrong.

She lives in a teeny tiny town in North Texas that has no Starbucks, which is a cruel and unusual punishment. She spends her time with her husband, pets, and Keurig. Because, coffee.

Book Series Review: His Royal Secret (book #1) and His Royal Favorite (book #2) by Lilah Pace

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It.

His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1)

by Lilah Pace 

July 19, 2016

185 pages

Penguin Group

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have to decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

“I'm absolutely desperate to read the next book. This is the kind of male/male romance I hunt down and devour. Hats off to Ms. Pace.”--Anna Zabo, author of Due Diligence

"His Royal Secret is delightful and romantic, with a wonderfully fresh take on a modern-day handsome prince." --C.S. Pacat, author of Captive Prince

His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2)
by Lilah Pace

August 16th 2016 by InterMix
The conclusion of Lilah Pace’s racy, romantic male/male duology following His Royal Secret...

James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight.

When the news story explodes across the globe, Ben can endure the mockery and dirty jokes. But after his tragic past is cruelly revealed, his life begins to implode. Can even his love for James be worth this?

James has it no easier. His revelation divides the country and sparks turmoil within the royal family. He must struggle to defend not only himself and Ben, but also his younger sister, who hovers on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger her life.

Is Ben strong enough to survive the onslaught and stand by James' side? And will James have to make a choice between Ben and the crown?

Review

Everyone knows I like to ride the dark urban fantasy/horror carousel with a hint of forbidden love. But...I have an embarrassingly weak spot for sickly sweet contemporary gay romance. Combine that with the Prince falling in love with a regular person troupe and EMREGERD SQUEE! Told you, embarrassing.

This plot is as cliche as any fairy tale prince story: Prince (future King of England) who appears to have everything, but is deeply lonely and miserable on the inside, has a chance meeting with an ordinary guy. They have lots of great "secret" sex with no strings—we all know how that turns out—they start falling for each other and...issues and feels happen. Lots and lots of feels, which is where the squees come in.

I was lucky (and you are too) that both books in the duology are out, so you can binge read the whole story like I did. It is well written and the characters are complex and easy to connect to. Prince James puts his family duty before his own happiness, like a good son. Even helping hide his sister's mental illness. He has accepted his fate—till he meets Ben. Ben is an American economics reporter who gets roped into covering a royal event. A rainstorm forces James to take refuge in Ben's bungalow...and what happens there is the inspiration for the covers *snicker*. A one night-stand slowly becomes more. The author sets a realistic pace for their relationship. And unlike some, the ending of book one is actually happy. The painful feels start in book two. But don't worry, this is a fairy tale romance with a happy ever after.

If you haven't read a m/m romance, this might be a good one to try. It is a love story first; the sex isn't too explicit, but still sexy.

4.5 "Checkmate" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:
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Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author, so she can’t give away too much about herself here, but she has lived everywhere from Italy to the United Kingdom before putting down roots in the American South.

She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).

And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.

Spotlight: The All Souls Real-time Reading Companion by Deborah Harkness + book #4 info

In honor of the season of treats, your friends at Headline and Viking Books and Penguin Paperbacks pulled together a FREE real-time reading companion for A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and SHADOW OF NIGHT. This is not a trick--it's an honest to goodness treat!

The All Souls Real-time Reading Companion Kindle Edition
by Deborah Harkness
November 17, 2015
Publisher: Penguin Books
A richly illustrated real-time reading guide that brings to life the world created by Deborah Harkness in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, retracing the events of the bestselling novels with illuminating behind-the-scenes details

A world of witches, vampires, and daemons.
A manuscript that holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future.
Diana and Matthew—the forbidden love at the heart of the adventure.

The All Souls Trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches. It continued with Shadow of Night.

Now, as The Book of Life has brought Deborah Harkness’s #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy to its conclusion, re-immerse yourself in the enchanting fantasy world she has created and enrich your experience of the heart-stopping finale.

All Souls Trilogy Real-Time Reading Companion Soon Available FREE Around the World...

You can already download the companion in the UK and anywhere Headline books are sold (India, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) on Amazon or iBookstore. If you download it on a color device, the photographs are in color, too. In the US, you will have to wait until November 17 (the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I's succession to the throne!), but you can pre-order it today. I just did, so it will download on November 17. It will be available for Kindle. Nook, and IBooks, wherever US editions of the book are available (i.e. Canada and foreign export markets served by Viking/Penguin). Same thing goes: if you download it on a device with a color screen the photos will show up in color, too.

US Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1QaxtmX

And here is the UK Amazon link: http://goo.gl/xfde9O

Again, this is completely free of charge, and our way of celebrating a very special

Announcement 

Coming in 2017: THE SERPENT’S MIRROR

(the following is from Deborah's website)

picture of Serpent's Mirror

“Deborah Harkness has placed World rights to her fourth novel, THE SERPENT’S MIRROR, with Viking Penguin and editor Carole DeSanti. Set in the All Souls’ world and centered on Matthew Clairmont’s career as a vampiric double agent in the Tudor era, the novel explores historical riddles surrounding the ascent of Elizabeth I to the throne. A contemporary narrative involves the witch-historian Diana Bishop and the cast of the Harkness’s bestselling All Souls’ Trilogy (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life). THE SERPENT’S MIRROR is projected as the opening volume of a series of novels drawing from material in the centuries-old de Clermont archives, and a 2017 publication is planned.”

For information visit Deborah's website

http://deborahharkness.com/coming-in-2017-the-serpents-mirror/