Luke's Brutal Abduction--The Whole Story

by Brad Vance

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Other than the salacious title, I have ZERO clue as to why this was banned from Amazon. 

This story is not Non-con. It is not Dub-con. It is consensual role-playing. Is it kinky and deviant--Hell yeah. There's a whole slew of things that would get many panties in a twist, but honestly, none of them are that extreme. Now for me to talk about the book so DO NOT read unless you want reveals. *eyes some people more than others* Restraint--use it. 

**SPOILER ALERT**

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I honestly was a little disappointed that the story turned out as mild mannered with the title it has. Essentially, this is some Fantasy role-playing for hire going on. And it is fun, but there are significant limitations placed on what exactly is going to happen. Even after things turn to a personal relationship instead of strictly business it still stays on the tame side with mild-moderate humiliation and S&M. Nice rough sex and some love **flutters eyelashes**

Actually, it was sweet and not what I expected at all.

Fairly certain that reading it a second time, having my expectations aligned correctly I'd rate this a star higher.

Skin Deep

by S. W. Vaughn

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3.5 stars

Infamous tattoo artist meets famed radio talk show host.

The story has an intensity driven by violence and a sense of impending doom for both protagonists. This is especially so due to the cruelty both are subjected to and done onto secondary characters. 

Will is a gentle soul who seems to keep finding bad nuts to get involved with. His predisposition to find a partner who will dominate manifests into relationships with individuals who abuse—he hasn’t quite gotten it right. And the scenes with Lyle are graphic and rather difficult to read because not only is Will unequivocally abused, but his confusion as to what is happening and what he wants is heartbreaking.

His love life was one long fucking train wreck, and the tracks never ended.

Cobalt is in exile. Having been banished from the Fae realm he works and plays in the mortal one. His precious relationships have all ended horribly and he is no longer interested in committing. Tempted by Will he takes an irrevocable step. And finally...

"I wanted it just as much—and the sounds you make are thanks enough."

This is the beginning of a series and the secondary characters are extremely interesting. While the conflict surrounding Will and Cobalt is resolved there are series’ arc conflicts that are set up as well as some interesting stories to explore. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. This story might be a heavy on violence for some, but the interactions between the protagonists are loving. 

A Matter of Time

by Mary Calmes

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Bucking the crowd or somehow I read a different book. Put in spoiler tags 'cause my grievances reveal significant plot points.  **SPOILER ALERT**
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Sam is a complete and utter ass and I want to smack Jory until he realizes he DOES NOT need that hot--cold shit Sam seems to think is reasonable. No caring human being is that inconsiderate about basic feelings and no! Not giving Sam a Go Free card 'cause he's having an identity crisis. I get the once even twice, but they go three times 'all in'.

I liked the developing relationship between Dane and Jory, but there was so much not explained prior to the adoption that I felt like I missed part of the story. Sure they're like peas in a pod or sirens for women and men, each calling one sex until they become enthralled. Yeah...that was a bit too good to be true, too.

I think the reader needs to buy into the fantasy aspect right away or this is not going to work. I suppose, I liked Jory and I was interested in his story, but the events surrounding his life are surreal. It's a production with some zealous directing and a plethora of drama points.

In the end, I was aggravated by this book because there were several times when I was really enjoying it and going with it when all of a sudden a random monkey wrench was tossed in and wrecked the flow. It was like playing Chutes and Ladders and constantly being sent back to the beginning again.

Truth in the Dark

by Amy Lane

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Love isn't blind. Love transforms.

Respun Fairy Tales are not my usual fare, but I have to say that this one rocks. From the vitriolic spewing to the cruelty and charm I was thoroughly engaged and vacillating between smirks and smiles. It is a worthwhile retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Naef is a tormented soul in a twisted body. His physical pain is only exceeded by the psychological.

I tried very hard not to ponder the horrible irony that I was too ugly to love, and too ugly not to violate.

When given a chance to escape his present circumstances he does so only to free his loyal protector and sister, Gwen.

I looked around at my little corner, my niggling, festering hovel of misanthropy. It was ugly—hell, it was rabid, but it was all I had.

Aerie-Smith, the sensitive Beast comes with an offer for Naef. The leonine features have not diminished his humanity. If only Naef could learn the self-acceptance that Aerie-Smith has. 

There is a lovely flip in this story and the reveal at the end takes this book from a 4 star to a 5 star read. 

Again, I've had to footnote my previous statements about Lane's writing. In my defense, no naive men or misplaced melodrama--it is a fairy tale and thus the twists and extremes are de rigueur. And a big thanks to my friend Don who urged me to give it chance with the promise I could exact violence on his person if I didn't like it--cheeky bastard. 

I want one of the chess sets.

Favorite quote:

I was terrified that this moment, my chance to live in happiness for however short a time we may have had, would be ruined because I was simply not carved out of the same wood as happiness, and that my grain was too twisted to ever take its form.

Note in the Margin

by Isabelle Rowan

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Woof. Okay, that was a rough read--Good, but tough.

"We all want to be stronger and better. Sometimes just to prove that we're good enough to be respected ... or loved."

John, taking an executive escape for health reasons, scampers across town to run a small cozy bookstore, Margins. A longtime neighborhood retreat there are a steady stream of regular visitors. Some more desirable than others. 

Jamie, the previous owner's son and assistant stays on to help run the place. He knows the ins and outs and all the regulars count on him, including David. Jamie's heart is big, open and fearless. When John wants to kick David out, Jamie stays his hand. 

David. He represents different things to different people, but he is one of the "invisible". And his story is all the more heartbreaking because it is not contrived. 

I found this story emotionally difficult, and while I usually resent that sort of manipulation, I couldn't here. How we as a society treat those less fortunate speaks volumes. I liked that characters made mistakes--some more egregious than others. John, is not a perfect man. In fact, there are several instances of cruelty that struck deep. But, only a hypocrite or liar would claim that they've never once done something similar. 

There are complicated issues addressed: homelessness, mental health, social welfare, and humanity. They are not glib or pretty and there are no simple, easy answers. I liked that it didn't negate the issue with cursory treatment. 

This book is a mirror and you will see yourself.

It was just another reminder that life wasn't that neat little jigsaw puzzle with a picture-perfect goal at the end.

The Student Prince

by Fayjay

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Very amusing and smile inducing.

When I started this I was like...you have got to be kidding me---Prince Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen?! *exaggerated eye roll* But as ridiculous, or maybe because of it, I actually got into the groove with this fanfic Round Table in modern Scotland story. If it had tried to be serious, it would have failed, but it had just enough tongue-in-cheek to keep it amusing--not lame. 

Meet Merlin, warlock extraordinaire and Arthur's roommate. A mere commoner, but gotta love his description of home:

"Yeah. Gnome-napped. It's a rough estate – no gnome is safe."

Faithful and dogged friend Gwen:

"He's – you – he – what?" Gwen looked like a five year old whose sugar high had just been interrupted by the news that Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy had all been massacred."

Prince Charming himself making a fine second impression:

"There must be some other clueless drooling yob out there with the conversational skills of a ring-tailed lemur who needs to be given a place to rest his weary head, and who wouldn't try to use me as a comfort blanket like a blithering infant when I was in the middle of trying to keep him from choking on his own vomit."

Academic mother and Arthur's cousin, Morgana's objets d'art, aka fashion sense:

It looked very much like a peacock and an ostrich had engaged in a bloody battle to the death, and the scattered remnants had been haphazardly woven together into hat form.

The legendary Great Dragon:

'No' seems such a flimsy and inadequate little word to express how very little interest I have in hearing you rambling on about that particular topic," said the dragon. "Your mating rituals are roughly as fascinating to me as the eating habits of snails."

The frightening and wise, Morgause:

"Life doesn't have to be all 'Romeo and Juliet', you know, unless you let it be. It can be 'Twelfth Night' instead, and everyone can stay alive and have their cakes and ale, even if they don't end up with the one they thought they wanted."

This is wildly entertaining if rather heavily British. The language, pop culture references and general inter-British country sniping about how one's better than the other are all full force, all the time. A fun read, sweet and just taunting in the teasing for a good portion. So like a slow burn or go home.

FREE ONLINE Fanfic: The Student Prince