REVIEW: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat | A Magical Cats Mystery Book 1 | Sofie Kelly | Penquin

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Reviewer: Lucille P Robinson

http://www.lucilleperkinsrobinson.com

Alternative-Read.com 

Link to book on Amazon UK and Amazon USA 
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kathleen Paulson took on the job of head librarian in Mayville Heights, Minnisota. While out walking, exploring the area around her rented house, she met two cats who followed her home. Within a short time, Kathleen learned neither cat was your everyday normal variety of feline. Owen disappeared when he wanted to be sneaky and Hercules passed through solid doors when he didn't want to stay home. Then Kathleen found a body on stage at the Stratton. By the end of the day everyone in Mayville seemed to be on the suspect list with Kathleen in the number one position.

Overall the book is a good read. It held my attention from the beginning, but that isn't unusual. Very few material clues scattered throughout the story and clues picked up while listening to the women talk keeps the reader guessing until the end who the killer is. Description of the town was either minimal or well hidden amongst all the calm action because once I had finished the book, I seemed to have had a good image of the whole town in my mind. I liked what I saw in that image. Not much romance entered into the happenings, but since Curiosity Thrilled the Cat is Book 1 a series, perhaps romance will develop and grow solid between the detective and Kathleen. Reach for the second book in the Magical Cats Mystery Series: SLEIGHT OF PAW. Check it out here: http://sofiekelly.com

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Author Bio

Sofie Kelly is a young adult writer and mixed-media artist. She lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter. She enjoys Wu style tai chi and likes to prowl through thrift stores. Read more about Sofie here: http://www.sofiekelly.com/bio.php

Lust and Other Drugs | Saranna DeWylde | Ellora'sCave

Lust and Other Drugs by Saranna DeWylde

Review by WitchGiggles

Alternative-Read.com

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Link to book on Amazon UK and Amazon USA

Anne's been using this site that caters to women for quite awhile without knowing that in reality the model who has become her all-time favorite is her lifelong best friend. Now she's in a quandry she's not sure how to handle; she and her best bud are becoming roommates. How's a girl supposed to live with a guy who stars in every fantasy she has?

Chase doesn't know that Anne has discovered his secret,but it's an outlet for all these repressed feelings. . A friends with benefits package sounds tempting to both,especially when a single dance starts a fire even he's not sure how to put out. But the no-strings arrangement is starting to sour when emotions neither expected rise up and bite them when they're not looking.

I love to read a story that can arouse many emotions and make you "see" what the words paint. Whether intentional or not the author, Saranna DeWylde, made me chuckle, shake my head, wonder if that can really happen-well, I'm sure you get the point. The biggest disappointment for me with this read was that the situation between them when that "bite" took place was there wasn't enough exploration of their feelings. While fully rounded as is, being an old fogey, I like to get into the hows, whys, and where's it going.....still a good read.

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REVIEW: Hellforged | Nancy Holzner

Hellforged by Nancy Holzner

Reviewed by Blodeuedd

Alternative-Read.com

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is Nancy Holzner's second book about Vicky, a shapeshifter and demon slayer. If you have a problem with demons then she will come in and fix it, even while you dream if that's where they are haunting you. She is the girl to call. No job is too small.

I was not in love with book 1, it was good, but for some reason I had issues with it. But I still wanted to know what happened and here something showed up that gave me that drive to really want to know. Now I can't tell you because that is a spoiler. But it gets interesting when something bad happens..is happening...The stakes are high, the fight is on, there is drama and most of all, questions. Questions that made me sit up in my chair wanting to scream. I needed to know, and then I know. And then, well then I needed to see it finished. What can I say, something good happens (ok bad, but you get the picture). It's interesting and it will keep you turning the page faster and faster.

It's hard to say anything about this book without spoiling it all. Vicky will fight for her life again. Things are not easy in Boston. Her werewolf boyfriend is in DC trying to give everyone rights. The zombies in Deadtown are preparing for a concert and demons are popping up as usual.

Romance then, Kane is away in DC and she misses him. All while seeing the human cop Daniel, whom she also likes. But there is never a triangle going on. It's more that she is dating, Kane is always busy. But I did start to like Kane more in this one.

The book is better than the first in my opinion, and hopefully it will get better and better.

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REVIEW: Missing, Assumed dead | Marva Dasef | MuseItUp Publishing

Missing, Assumed Dead by Marva Dasef

 
Reviewer: Lucille P Robinson
Alternative-Read.com 
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Link to book on Amazon.com and Amazon UK

Kameron McBride receives a letter from a court in Oregon saying she has been appointed the executor of Salvador Vasco's estate. She decides, with much prompting from her mom and best friend Sue, to go.

After arriving in Oregon, the frustration of getting lost in the near-desert territory is offset by meeting a tall, dark and handsome Deputy Mitch whose very arrival at the spot runs would-be attackers away. This was just a beginning. Before long, Kam finds herself in the middle of a seven year old murder with danger lurking behind her throughout her brief stay in Rosewood. Mitch becomes her protector only to be gone when the real danger appears.

Marva Dasef's Missing, Assumed Dead is a short book at 127 pages, but it is packed with excitement and raw nerve. Each event follows the previous one with logical precision. The story reads fast just the way I like them to do.

The heroine, Kameron McBride, is a daring woman, and, despite her claims to the contrary, she cannot take care of herself. Enter the hero: brave, courageous, and handsome Mitch Caldwell. Both characters are well-rounded people and still just a normal woman and man. Believable? Yes. The setting is exciting for me with my love of old western movies and the novels written by Zane Grey. These I grew up on and Mitch reminds me of the heroes portrayed in these. And the touch of romance always adds a sweet touch.

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About the Author

Marva Dasef lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a fat white cat. Marva has published more than forty stories in a number of on-line and print magazines, with her stories included in several Best of anthologies. She has seven published books with three more scheduled for release in 2011 and 2012 through MuseItUp Publishing.

REVIEW: Rapture's Claim | Lee Pearce | Passion In Print Press

Rapture's Claim by Lee Pearce

Link to book on Amazon UK | USA
Review by WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Lizzy Greenley, female werewolf, who up until this moment thought she knew where her life was going. Now she wonders if this train-wreck she's trying to muddle through will ever approximate her original plans for a life with football boyfriend, Jeremy Sanderson. All she wanted was to marry him, have babies, raise horses and teach. Now she'd appreciate just staying ahead of those hot on their trail.

Jeremy has been taking an enhanced steroid made from werewolf blood known as W. The problem? He's human and this drug tends to have consequences to it that make it illegal to administer to anyone. To save his life, Libby breaks the law, now they're both on the run-from the pack, rogues and trial.

I have to admit that the romantic scenes need a bit of polishing in this one as they came across a bit repetitive and bland, but the premise is good, the plot strong and the characters memorable. Just when I got comfortable with where things were going there would be a new element added to send it in a bit of a different direction, which kept it interesting. There were a few places where some of these twists weren't as smooth as they could have been, but they were minor.

The segues into the erotic scenes were a bit stilted at times making me go back and re-read the beginning of it to see if perhaps I read it too quickly. The strong plot and hearty characters still make Lee Pearce's, Rapture's Claim, a good read.

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REVIEW: Dark Enchantment | Anya Bast | Berkley Sensation

Dark Enchantment by Anya Bast

Series. Dark Magick #3

Genre: Paranormal romance

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Review by Blodeuedd

Alternative-Read.com

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis from goodreads:

Seduced in a dream by a handsome, rugged man, Charlotte Bennett decides to let pleasure and desire lead the way-only to discover her "safe night of passion has dangerous repercussions.

My Review:

Dark Enchantment is the third book in the Dark magick series by Anya Bast, but even though I have not read of the previous books I could still read it without feeling lost at all, as there is always a new couple on the horizon and new things that happen.

Charlotte Bennett fears the Fae, just as much as her father dislikes them, so she is glad that they are all behind walls of Piefferburg and can't get out. But when someone pulls her there she does her best to cope with their requests, desperately trying not to fall for a Fae called Kieran, the hot dream guy who started it all.

I like the world that Bast creates. A world where all Fae live in their own city and can't get out. Druids guard the entrance and the hate runs deep between them. But the Fae has plans, which I doubt can turn out well since most seem to fear them even if there is a group who want them free. Still I do not know why the "bad guys" are not behind walls themselves. Shouldn't people fear them too?

Since this is pnr it's a given that Charlotte and Kieran will fall for each other. But how is the question since she fears them and he. Well he has got issues! But I liked how it happens and they do seem right for each other. Together the passion sure flows between these two.

Evil bad guys who think they are right (oh those are the worst!), the hunt for a secret, a doomed romance and an ending that makes you want more -- that is what this book is all about.

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Alberta Ross

This month I am pleased to introduce you to author, Alberta Ross. 

Click here to go to pic on Flickr

When asked for a bio, this is what Alberta shared with me:

I spent the first part of my adult life travelling the world, the middle years studying and now have settled down to write. From the first part I have endless photographs and memories from the second I have a BSc Hons and a MA. Now in this part everything comes together.

Over the years my interests have expanded, as has my book and music collection. A short list would include reading (almost anything) science, opera, folk, gardening, philosophy, crazy patchwork, freeform crochet, ethics, social history, cooking (and eating of course) anthropology and of course climate change and sustainability.


My parents gave me, apart from a love of reading and music, an interest and curiosity in everything which in itself gives a total inability to be bored and for this I am always grateful.

Alberta Ross is also a Goodreads Author, and below are her latest books on offer.


The Sefuty Chronicles

In 2060 the catastrophic results of climate change lead to mass migrations, whole nations fleeing rising seas and desertification. The world at war: land, water and survival the prize. The survivors split, most scrambling to the purpose-built cities the others fortifying their settlements behind the false security of rings of landmines. Genetic manipulations lead to populations in the cities being freed from greed and violence but this has resulted in the destruction of the drive which made the human race so successful. Imprisoned behind the mines, deprived of resources, the settlements battle famine, natural disasters and despair. Populations everywhere continue to tumble.

Ellen’s Tale: being the first of the Sefuty Chronicles

2111: In a world devastated by climate change, Ellen, sheltered child of the City falls in love against all odds with Bix, a geneticaly manipulated soldier. Unable to face a life apart they have to find a way together in an uncertain world. Two researchers, using archival material, explore the events leading to this love affair and its consequences.


The Storyteller’s Tale: being the second of the Sefuty Chronicles

It is 2113 Ellen and Bix, their children and Jack have moved out of the City, settled in Blaisemill to gain skills for survival in the wilderness. They start opening up the beleaguered settlements and establishing Trade Routes. Jack takes on Keira Baha, Blaisemill’s black sheep, to be their guide. Many in the village consider she is mad as well as bad and that the Ferals have made a mistake.



Jack’s Tale: being the third of the Sefuty Chronicles

2116: Imprisoned behind rings of mines, deprived of resources, settlements battle famine, natural disasters and despair. The land to the west and north of the City untouched by any law for over 50 years is a more perilous place than they had imagined and soon our companions face conflict and danger. Disaster threatens the close knit band and relationships begin to founder under the stresses of war.

The Sefuty Chronicles can be found in print at  http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/albertaross

e-book editions in multi formats can be purchased at Smashwords.com
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AlbertaRoss

and on Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_at_ep_srch?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Alberta%20Ross

Alberta can be followed on her blogs
http://sefutychronicles-albertaross.blogspot.com where she blogs  on the influences, inspirations and progress of her publications

and about her interests in life
http://www.didyoueverkissafrog.typepad.com

also on
http://albertaross.wordpress.com where she writes about writing, publishing, challenges, blog hops and much more

Alberta writes about books she enjoys, influences they have given over the decades on
http://albertareads.wordpress.com

and can be followed
http://twitter.com/albertaross
and
http://www.facebook.com/author.alberta.ross
 

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