Alternative-Read.com: June 2009

The Sarran Plague by A. C. Katt

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Clayton Bye

The Sarran Plague
by A. C. Katt
Author Website: www.ackatt.com
Publisher Website: www.eternalpress.ca
Genre: Futuristic Erotic Romance
Release Date: April 2009
ISBN -13: 978-1-926647-75-3/978-1-926647-67-8
Length: 186 pages
Format: Print/ eBook

Reviewer: Clayton Bye
Alternative-Read.com

Buy Now at Amazon

A green mist in the sky during July 4th fireworks is a genetically designed viral attack on Earth’s women by Aliens known as the Zyptz. Enter the Sarran Warriors. They, too, have been attacked by the Zyptz. The Sarrans offer an antidote and immunization to Earth—at a price. The worst cases, 4,500 women who would surely have died of the plague, are to be turned over to the Sarrans to help them repopulate their own world.

The rest of the story takes place on the Sarran spaceship as it returns home with its captives. How will Dr. Anya Forrest react when she finds she is to be mated with two men who are also lovers? What consequences will result from the forced intermixing of two quite different cultures? And when will the ship’s psychic inhabitants realize Anya’s cat is a savant?

Cleverly written, this erotic romance novel entertains. The Sarran Plague will make a fine summer read for someone who wants a fast-moving story with lots of spice.

Not all is perfect, though. From the perspective of someone who is also an author and who enjoys science fiction, the book doesn’t hold up as well as I would have liked. I felt the author had a terrific story to work with, but she seemed far too interested in the romance side of things. In fact, there were times the story seemed to be nothing more than a vehicle in which to carry sex scenes. Too bad: a little more effort and a little less sex could have resulted in a meaty novel able to gather readers from both romance and science fiction genres.

Perhaps it’s just a matter of preference, but I found myself asking why can’t a romance also be a terrific story?

Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2009

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WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK WEDNESDAY? Book Blog Meme!

REVIEW: The Way You Love Me ~ Francis Ray

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Title: The Way You Love Me
Author: Francis Ray
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Published: 2008
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 388 pages approx.
Format: Paperback
Reviewer: Sassy Brit
Alternative-Read.com

Paige Albright, has met former Army Ranger turned security guard, Shane Elliot, before. But when they parted, Paige thought it was for good. To her amazement, he unexpectedly turns up in her life, but this time as an employee of her mother, who is a close friend to Blade's wife Sierra - familiar faces from previous books. Now, after the death of her beloved father, Paige is due to inherit a fortune. Her mother, however, is not happy with Paige's boyfriend, Russell, and feels Paige may just be with Russell because her late father liked him. She also wonders if he is truly right for her, and tends to think he is just with Paige for her money.

Enter sexy security guard Shane whose job it is to run background checks on Russell and get to the bottom of his intentions. Shane was not, however, expecting to get caught up in a romance, especially with the daughter of the woman he is working for. He's been hurt before, and doesn't want to feel that sort of pain again, but there is something about Paige which is tempting him to go further than work would normally allow. Only now that he has found her again he can't as Paige is already taken. Now there are more reasons for Shane to want to catch Russell out than just being paid as this time it is personal.

This continuing adventure of the Grayson family now follows the Grayson Friends and first up is Shane Elliot's story. I found the moment Paige and Shane meet again there is an explosion of sexual tension between the two and it's fascinating to watch them together as their desire for each other grows. Of course, Francis Ray has thrown in the inevitable obstacles that the couple must face, and that is part of the beauty of her books; the ups and downs her characters have while travelling the stormy weathers of Ms. Ray's plots. The Way You Love Me is a tender, yet intense romance that will tug at your heart strings. Francis Ray has excelled yet again, blending our well-loved characters with a new series for all their friends.

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WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK WEDNESDAY? Book Blog Meme!

TEASER TUESDAYS:I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Teaser Tuesday, a blog meme hosted by MizB on Should Be Reading.

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page. Share the title & author of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. Please avoid spoilers!

So here is my Tuesday Teaser:

I've never met a successful mobster who didn't start his day at the crack of dawn. Of course, that eliminated most of them who didn't normally arrive home until the crack of dawn.

Insider business tips: Taken from I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by former Mob Boss, Michael Franzese. This is from the chapter titled 'Don't Get Killed in Your Pajamas'
Page 18

What's yours?

Sassy
:)

MAILBOX MONDAY: The Blue Handbag & The World Below (29th June)

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and New Crayons is hosted by Color Online. All three which are related to books you receive in the past week.Roughly the rules are the same for all three:

They are gathering places for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: This can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This is the idea for New Crayons:

Remember when you were a kid and getting new crayons was a big deal? Getting new books holds the same kind of magic for some of us big kids. Every week on Sunday, I post what's new in our box. Hope you'll share what you picked up from the library, store or in the mail, too.

I received these two books over the weekend and I am very excited to be able to review these:

Fiona Robyn's Website

Sue Miller's spot at Bloomsbury Books

I also found some more books in a few charity shops, which were on my wishlist, but hey, that's a post for another day. What did you get?

Sassy
:)

AWARDS FOR AR: Kreativ Blogger Award from Eleni

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

I have been awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award by Eleni at La Femme Readers.
Thank you so much! Once again, this award belongs to all of us here at AR -- all reviewers, staff working behind the scenes and our readers who keep coming back. I couldn't do it without all of you. Thanks!

These is also a meme, so here are the rules: If you accept it, you are supposed to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven blogs that deserve this award.

These are my 7 favorite things: [No specific order]

1. My family
2. My friends
3. My iPod for those times I am not reading I listen to audio books. I often do this during my hour long dog walks or when I am tidying the house. Yes, it does happen sometimes.
4. My books - OK this is another collective "thing", but I could not be without them.
5. Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - hard to get over here in large amounts. I rely heavily on my American friends for help with this. The Elvis Presley special edition banana flavoured Peanut Butter Cups were also very nice. Yum! Yum!
6. My computer - without it I wouldn't be here, nor would I have met so many lovely like-minded people, read so many good books, or be able to feed my Peanut Butter Cups addiction.
7. My pets - tw0 dogs, two gerbils and a lonely old fish. LOL

The 7 bloggers I feel deserve this award are:

1. gautami tripathy @ Everything Distils Into Reading
2. Beth @ Beth Fish Reads
3. Jo-Jo @ Jo-Jo Loves to Read
4. Luanne @ A Bookworm's World
5. Jo Scrawls @ Ink & Paper
6. Dar @ Peeking Between the Pages
7. Alexa @ The Worse Review Ever!

Enjoy! And thanks again, Eleni. Congratulations on your award, too!

AR AWARDS: Proximidade! :) Thank you.

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

This blog invests and believes in the Proximity - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.

What a lovely award. This time I have LadyBug to thank for her kindness. Once again, this award belongs to all of us here at AR -- all reviewers, staff working behind the scenes and our readers who keep coming back. Thanks!

My eight chosen winners of this award are:

1. Debbie @ Debbie's World of Books
2. Grace @ Grace's Book Blog
3. Elizabeth @ Elizabeth Willse
4. Laura @ Book and Movie Reviews
5. uncertainprinciples @ Another Cookie Crumbles
6. Eleni @ La Femme Readers
7. Lea @ Closet Writer
8. mjmbecky @ One Literature Nut

Enjoy!

AR AWARD: The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval 27th June

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Today is Saturday, which is the one day of the week I will award book blogs my own Alternative-Reader's The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval! This will be given in recognition of their dedication and enthusiasm in sharing informative and entertaining book news. Book lovers are truly an inspiration to us all and this is my way of simply saying thank you, I love your blog!

Each winner can add this picture above to their blog and link back here, should they wish to. That's all there is to do. If you receive this award and would like to forward it on to other bloggers you feel deserve the award, that's fine by me, but there is absolutely no pressure to do so. Just enjoy!

The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval today goes to:

E.H> of Erotic Horizon fame.

Congratulations! I love your blog!

There are so many more I want to give this award to, luckily there are an infinity of Saturday's to do it in.

Sassy
:)

FREE BOOK: Got a friend/relative who reads?

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Read on! Enjoy!

Note from the author: Earlier I sent out an announcement about my prequel novella for The Daughters of Trinity Series called Honeysuckle and Wild Roses. It's free at All Romance eBooks and it'll be offered for free at www.freyasbower.com too. And it'll be available for free download on my website in a coupla weeks.

If you have a friend, co-worker or relative who lives to read, send them the link to Honeysuckle and Wild Roses, and if they've never tried an ebook before, my novella is a great way to introduce them to ebooks!

How often do you find an entire novella for free? And it's not a shortie novella either; it's about 30K words!

Here is the link again to it at ARE: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-honeysuckleandwildroses-347-144.html

www.faithbicknellbrown.com and www.myspace.com/zinniahope
Sign up HERE for weaving magic into romance newsletter!

I twitter. www.twitter.com/Faith_Zinnia Do you?

FRIDAY FILL-IN: Sassy's Response (26th June)

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Janet is the Host of Friday Fill-Ins. This is new meme to me, but it looked like fun, fun, fun! All I have to do is fill in the gaps. My answers are in bold.

And...here we go!

1. She had a great __aptitude for rock climbing, as long as she didn't look down__.

2. __A book___ is by my side, always.

3. I know this: _The only way to truly move forward is to never look back__.

4. _In my gerbils cage it is like 'Changing Rooms' their environment never stands____ still. Thank goodness they don't where to get hold of any hammers and nails!

5. These words apply to me: _Effort only releases its reward when you refuse to quit____.

6. _Yesterday____ the sun was shining. Today it's cloudy and humid. The moment I step outside my hair will become a ball of frizz!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _going out with friends____, tomorrow my plans include _a trip to see the Mother-in-Law__ and Sunday, I want to _enjoy with the family____!

What are your answers?

Sassy
:)

REVIEW: Tapestry of the Past by Alvania Scarborough from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Tapestry of the Past
Author: Alvania Scarborough
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Romantic Suspense
Publication Date: September 2008
ISBN: 9781419918025
Length: Plus Novel
Format: eBook
Reviewer: WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com

Everybody has dreams, but not everyone has visions of murder; especially their own. Having been scoffed at for reporting her visions,yet having them turn out true, Kalesia Brannigan has at last found someone willing to listen and even recommend someone to help her. She just wasn't expecting the someone to make her body throb and her heart yearn for things she knows aren't likely.

Having become intimately enmeshed within the kinds of dreams that rend the soul and scar the heart, Gabriel Steele has no intention of allowing anything or anyone to hurt this feisty, red-headed woman who's brought light into the depths of the darkness of his soul. He just wasn't ready for the effect she has on every male who comes within range of her giving heart.

What happens when two souls collide? Wonderful, passionate, hurtful, confusing, steamy things that cause no end of frustrating, conflicting, antagonistic meetings of the bodies and minds of individuals who no longer know how to relate to or trust other human beings. Kalesia was an inspiration in some ways, a warning in others, while Gabriel was the tormented male fraught with so many horrors he's forgotten how to live. The interaction of these two people learning to
do the one thing abused or humiliated individuals fear most- to trust- was in itself a story, but interwoven throughout this mystery of a murder yet to happen it becomes a foundation as well.

REVIEW: Passionate Spirits by Trinidad West from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Passionate Spirits
Author: Trinidad West
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Paranormal
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN:9781419918681
Length: Short Novel
Format: eBook Reviewer: WitchGiggles Alternative-Read.com

Figuring that doing a favor for a friend will at least get her a weekend of warmth instead of freezing at her place, Iris Cooper isn't prepared for the instant attraction she feels for sculptor Matthew Hall, or the ghostie of his great-grandmother who's out to tell her story in some incredibly sexy dreams.

Somewhat reclusive, Matthew decides he has found a great model in Iris; now if he can just get her to pose the way he needs her to-naked- without losing his focus, these sculptures might be some of his best. What he hadn't counted on is "Grannie" deciding she's going to find him a woman: starting with Iris.

What a unique way to tell your story. Throw in an unsolved murder, hot sex, a very shy woman and a man who's afraid of rejection and you've got the makings of an intricate plot. Does this one stand up to the test? Most of the time, yes it does. To me it got a wee bit off track switching between the now and then segues a couple of times, but not so noticeably that it detracted from the whole. The unintentional? humor interspersed as Matt poses Iris adds to the overall sexiness of their relationship. I did so enjoy this one.

REVIEW: Lover's Stone, Ruby by Elyssa Edwards from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Lover's Stone, Ruby
Author: Elyssa Edwards
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Werewolf
Publication Date: July 2008
ISBN:9781419914546
Length: Novella
Format: eBook
Reviewer: WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com

Anna has been having the most incredible dreams of a most beautiful man. Only he isn't really a man and she's sworn to destroy his kind, for she's a hunter. Fate's perverted sense of justice is going to play havoc with both of their lives.

For Luke Ursine destiny has stepped in and declared him off limits to all other women for all eternity since he has been "called" to the sacred cave and been given not just a mating stone, but a sacred lover's stone. It seems fate also has a wicked sense of humor in giving him a mate who is not only not a were, but also a hunter.

I loved the interaction of the two with Tarris (who is by the way the most prosaic and practical of the bunch) in the dream state before actually meeting -which is another story in itself. This is a good example of opposites attracting while not knowing what truth is, yet finding the strength to continue afterwards. The sex was tremendous, but it was Luke's dedication to Anna that stole the tale for me. I think it could have been taken farther in length or maybe followed with a sequel as there are a lot of questions still unanswered for me, but it's still a good read.

Review : Androgynous Murder House Party

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Clayton Bye

Title: Androgynous Murder House Party

Author: Steven Rigolosi
Publisher: Ransom Note Press
Genre: Adults; Fiction/Mystery
Publication date: June 15, 2009
ISBN -13: 978-0-9773787-6-0
Length: 276 pages
Format: Trade paperback
Buy Now

Reviewer: Clayton Bye
Alternative-Read.com

Steven Rigolosi is the director of market research and development at W. H. Freeman & Co. and Worth Publishers. The first book in the Tales from the Back Pages series, Who Gets the Apartment?, received the David Award for best Mystery of 2006 by the Deadly Ink convention. Library Journal has called Rigolosi “a completely fresh voice in the mystery genre.”

Androgynous Murder House Party (Tales from the Back Pages #3) is great fun to read. A whodunit starring the sleuth Robin Anders, a wealthy New York socialite who maintains a drug-enhanced, self-centred and largely fabricated existence, this tale is something new under the sun.

Narrator of the story, Robin Anders delivers a constant description of the world as only Robin sees it. This means that since everything is coloured by Robin’s warped perspective the reader must answer many questions: What’s real, and what’s imagined? Is Robin a man or woman, straight or gay? What are the genders and sexual preferences of Anders’ circle of friends? And let’s not forget about the house party! A weekend at Robin’s Long Island estate leads to a series of murders, robberies and shenanigans that only Robin (of course) has the intelligence to solve.

Steven Rigolosi has a solid set of writing skills. His cast of unusual characters entertains and intrigues. I also enjoyed his unique sense of humour. Nothing in Androgynous Murder House Party is typical of the mystery genre (even the dénouement will surprise). Rigolosi truly is refreshing.

Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2009

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WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK WEDNESDAY? Book Blog Meme!

SASSY'S BOOK BLOG MEME: What's On Your Desk Wednesday? (24th June)

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

What's on your desk Wednesday? is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Sassy Brit of Alternative-Read.com

Check my blog out each Wednesday for the post titled What's on your desk Wednesday?

Here's what you do:

Grab a camera and take a photo of your desk! Or anywhere you stack your books/TBR pile. And no tidying!

Add this photo to your blog.

Tag at least 5 people!

Come back to AR and leave a link back to your photo in the comments section.

That's it.

However, for those without digital cameras or blogs of your own, you can do this instead: (or both if you are keen!)

List at least 5 BOOKISH things on your desk (I'm thinking your TBR pile or books you haven't shelved...)

List at least 5 NON BOOK things. (I'm thinking some of some of the more unusual items on your desk/table?)

Tag at least 5 people to do the same.

Come back and leave your link at AR, so we can come and visit your blog. Or add your answers in the comments.

Feel free to grab the above picture to place on your blog - as a way of showing you are participating, and of course to spread the word!

Thank you everyone for taking the time to come here and comment. It's truly appreciated. I aim to get back to everyone as soon as possible.

Have fun!

Sassy
:)

Here's my answer to What's on your desk Wednesday? As usual I've completed both, the photo and the list!

List at least 5 BOOKISH things on your desk:

1. Primeval: Extinction Event by Dan Abnett (Time travelling dinosaurs!) Still on my desk!
2. Poetic Musings of an Old Fat Man by Harry Gilleland (A fun poetry book)
3. To Your Own Self Be True by Ray Melnik (Fictional story involving science/inspirational)
4. I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Michael Franzese (Yes, it finally came! Insider business tips from a former mob boss)
5. The Rise of the Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt (YA steampunk book)

As you can see this is an old pic of my desk and bookshelves - my camera has broken! I hope it just needs a new battery. It all looks very neat though and I have pigeon holes on that bare wall now. :)

List at least 5 NON BOOK things. (I'm thinking some of some of the more unusual items on your desk/table?)

1. Dexim BluePack S3 for iPhone / iPod / BlackBerry and some mobile phones (This is actually for review)
2. My iPod!
3. A cuddly toy snowball wearing a Father Christmas hat! (He giggles)
4. A piece of amethyst rock (my birthstone)
5. My dogs vaccination records (just checking when the next costly trip to the vets is due!)

Tag at least 5 people to do the same.

1. Eleni @ http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/
2. Caspette @ http://thenarrativecausality.blogspot.com/
3. Book Bird Dog @ http://bookbirddog.blogspot.com/
4. Fantaghiro @ http://ahsbookwatch.blogspot.com/
5. Chris @ http://chris-book-a-rama.blogspot.com/

Come back and leave your link, so my readers can come and visit your blog. Or add your answers in the comments.

Check out these flickr photos! If you don't wish to see yours here, just say!

Also, please don't feel pressurised into tagging, or even playing along, just do what feels right for you. The main aim here is to have fun with this.

COMPETITION: June 30, 2009 has been declared author Brenda Jackson Day!

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Romance readers get ready as New York Times Best-selling author, Brenda Jackson, turns up the heat this summer with her 66th book, INTIMATE SEDUCTION (Kimani Romance; June 2009; Mass Market Paperback; $5.99 US)!

For more information and to enter the Brenda Jackson Day Contest, visit - http://www.thegrits.com/publicity/books/A-K/brendajackson.html

REVIEW: Knights Fork by Rowena Cherry - Dorchester Publishing - Futuristic Romance

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

I love both of these covers so had to post them for your enjoyment!

Title: Knights Fork
Author: Rowena Cherry
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 9780505527400
Publish date: 2008
Genre: Futuristic Romance/SF
Format: Paperback
Length: 273 pages approx.
Reviewer: Sassy Brit
Alternative-Read.com

Electra-Djerroldina is a woman with royal alien blood and a Djinn who is fertile. She knows what she wants, but can't have it -- a baby with her long suffering mate, Vis-Igerd. So, she picks out her next chosen lover, gorgeous, intelligent, 'Rhett, (who even read human law at Cambridge) and hunts him down relentlessly. He will give in, and that's an order!

It is unfortunate for Electra that 'Rhett has taken a vow of chastity. In addition, she is unaware that more than one person, not just herself, are making plans for 'Rhett's future. Her meddling younger brother, Prince Tarrant-Arragon, and 'Rhett's interfering father, for starters. Oh, and she doesn't know he is also the son of their greatest enemy. Can't you just see where things are going to get tough and rocket out of proportion?

I found this a welcomed addition to the previous books in this series, Forced Mate, Insufficient Mating Material and Mating Net. Do read these, as I am sure you will benefit from these earlier saucy adventures in space. It was a pleasure to revisit the feisty characters, and familiar faces, which battle it out against each others wits, strength, and cunning for your entertainment. This is a great, futuristic romance - a force to be reckoned with. The unlikely relationship between Electra and 'Rhett sizzles. I also have a fondness for the very British, Grievous, and his smashing stiff-upper-lipped humour. Throughout the book we visit intriguing settings; the Royal Suite's bathroom closets, the pantry and the Officers gymnasium showers - to name but three. What with rut-rage and body-treason Rowena Cherry has once again let her imagination and wit shine through with the flare and precision of a guided missile - heading straight to your bookshelf - I hope. What a intergalactic blast!

TEASER TUESDAY: The Rise of The Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Purity wanted to swear and scream, but the restraining table was fitted with a rubber sphere that inserted itself in the prisoner's mouth. After all, the civil service's surgeons didn't want their deliberations on bloodwork and which pedigree lines to crossbreed to be interrupted by abuse.

Page 3
The Rise of The Iron Moon
Stephen Hunt

What's yours?

Sassy
:)

MEMBER NEWS: The Dark Moon books are now available on Bookstrand and ARe!

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Check it out:

http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/adriannebrennan/

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Adrianne+Brennan

So far just the works in the Dark Moon series are up, but I'm sure that once
The Oath series has more out there will be more put up! :)

Love & Magic,
Adrianne

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of Blood of the Dark Moon:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html
Take a bite out of Blood and Mint Chocolates:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/bamc.html
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath

BOOK EXCERPT: rate PG;Romance, Contemporary, Gay, GBLT,

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Love Most Inconvenient 2
D.J. Manly
ISBN 978-1-59578- 566-4

Love sometimes comes along when it's most inconvenient. In these three stories of inconvenient love, our heroes have more pressing problems than finding love.

In "The Planner," Vincent is left trying to find someone who can coordinate events at a business he ran with his partner, a partner who has run off with a younger man. David is looking for his dream, and he's not about to let Vincent turn him away.

In "The Boss," Steven is trying to figure out how he is going to face his new boss the morning after he did a drunken striptease for him. Not only is the new boss a hunk, he's not available.

In "Jupiter," Alex is sentenced to do community service at the school that he trashed, and is drawn to a guy who represents everything he despises. Alex is about to learn more than just retribution for his crimes.

http://www.djmanlyfiction.com/

PROMO: EXCERPT - MURDER BY MISTAKE by J.K. Maze

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Mollie Fenwick is having a hard time choosing between hunky homicide cop, Bradley Bartholomew, and a Native American, ex-special forces named Jack Wolf. Below, I've posted her introduction to Detective Bartholomew. Wolf's intro follows tomorrow. I'm wondering if any of you would find it any easier to choose.

I didn't know whether to cry or complain. If Detective Bartholomew thought I was guilty, he had it all wrong. I hadn't been anywhere near my apartment during the murder. Didn't that make me a victim? I shouldn't be surprised at his attitude. He'd accused me of graduating from running him down to committing a murder.

Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt. He couldn't know I had never met the woman. I could at least try to explain. To be convincing I had to stand up and meet him eye-to-eye. Well, almost eye-to-eye. He was probably more than a foot taller. So, I got up.

What I mean is, I tried to. My muscles wouldn't cooperate, and I fell right down again, knocking into him. He tottered there, regained his balance and looked straight at me. I don't know what was going on with him, but his eyes twinkled and then darkened. My first impression was anger, but I was wrong. I was seeing raw passion and the way he studied my body from head to foot sure proved it. I didn't know how to react to that. My mind said to forget it, my body told me the opposite.

"Do I need to take out extra insurance before I help you up?" he asked.
"Sorry."
I don't know what I expected, but it certainly wasn't to be picked up bodily, as if I weighed next to nothing. I tried to ignore him, but his big hands sent crazy signals to my body, turning my skin to fire, and making my legs even wobblier than before. His being a homicide cop really scared me, but, oh boy, I didn't want him to let go.
"Sorry. I'm not quite myself tonight."

Joan K Maze
Writing as J. K. Maze

www.joanmaze.com

REVIEW: Hidden Enemies by Ravyn Wilde

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Angelika Devlyn

Title: Hidden Enemies
Author: Ravyn Wilde
Author Website: http://65.110.68.101/mtdf-exc.html
Publisher: Elloras Cave
Genre: Romantic suspense
ISBN: 9781419920424
Length: Novella
Publish Date: June 2009
Note: This originally appeared in the
Ellora's Cave anthology Men to Die For.
Reviewer: Angelika Devlyn
Alternative-Read.com

A car accident caused Jenna's husband, Rick, to change into a wife beater, after which she could only take so much and finally divorced him, which enraged him further - so much that he wants her dead. Despite Jenna's pleas to the police for help there is nothing she can do to protect herself other than to go on the run under a different identity; an idea the police agree with.

By chance she meets Cole, and instantly there is an attraction, but he has secrets and problems of his own. Since he was a child he has learnt he has a psychic ability that enables him to read emotions, and know what someone is feeling. A previous girlfriend thought this too freaky and it scared her off. With this in mind, Cole doesn't want to get into any serious relationships and expects to live the rest of his life alone, until he meets Jenna, who also feels a connection with him, as if she is sharing what he would be feeling, too.

More problems arrive as Jenna finds a security-risk book that Cole has written titled 'Hidden Enemies' that she realises is the answer to her prayers for it explains exactly what she needs to do to hide from Rick and guarantee her safety. If she steals the book, however, she can say goodbye to Cole and her freedom if caught. Decisions need to be made. Time is running out. She must chose between self preservation, which means to take the book and leave the man she has only just met and fallen in love with or risk staying with Cole where Rick might eventually catch up to her and finish her off. As much as she hates it, in her eyes she has no choice. Rick will not stop until she is dead. Will she ever escape her brutal husband or stay in one place long enough to find love again?

In many ways this is a realistic and sad tale of a husband who probably loved his wife, as she did him, until he had a head injury, which caused him to change his behaviour and turned him into a violent psychopath. A small part of me feels for him, because his awful change of character was not his fault. This condition is real and it can happen to the most loving man and without warning. However, throughout the story I wanted nothing more than Jenna to get safely away. The sexual chemistry between her and psychic Cole is fantastic. With the threat of exposure and physical danger always being just around the corner Ravyn Wilde has written an urgent romantic suspense with engrossing characters full of internal conflict to keep you reading fast and furiously. 'Hidden Enemies' is a terrific, realistic tale of one woman's courage and determination to fight for survival against all odds and the choices she is forced to make to overcome her killer of a husband. As fast as Jenna is checking out of her hotel room, I am checking out more stories by author Ravyn Wilde.
--

Angelika Devlyn http://angelikadevlyn.wordpress.com/
http://myspace.com/angelika_devlyn

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REVIEW: To Inherit a Murderer by E. J. Reuk

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Clayton Bye

Title: To Inherit a Murderer (Book 1, The Ward)
Author: E. J. Reuk

Publisher: smashwords
Publication date: June 2009
Genre: Thriller
Format: eBook

Buy Now

Reviewer: Clayton Bye
Alternative-Read.com

The Author

E. J. Ruek writes “contemporary mainstream novels with just a nod of nerve-tingling what-if possibility.”

“In life,” the author says “things are not always as they seem — not on the surface and not underneath. I like that. I like to write about that. Your auntie might not be that nice lady you always thought she was. In fact, she might be nicer. If fact, she might have hidden knowledge that you never dreamed someone like her could harbor, much less use. She has secrets, and those secrets drive the neighbors crazy, because they just “know” that something isn’t quite as “normal” as it should be. …And it isn’t.”

“You just never know. You can never assume. Because, when you do, things happen.”

The Book

Both parents dead, William is to be raised by his mother’s friend Deborah Rheinhart–even though she suspects the twelve-year-old is a murderer.

Injured by the rage-driven boy on his first day at her home, Deborah’s reclusive and very private life is turned upside down. Her hired “chaperones” are forced to turn her beautiful ranch into a prison. Even Deborah’s activities become restricted.

A portrait of high-end ranch life and the “prestigious world” of Grand Prix show jumping, The Ward by E. J. Ruek is also the story of a woman dedicated to understanding and teaching her inherited child, despite how evil he seems to be. Determined to make William earn companionship and privileges by actions, Deborah puts herself directly in the path of a force so destructive she may very well be the next victim on a growing list of strange deaths and injuries.

The Review

To Inherit a Murderer (Book 1, The Ward) is my first time reading the fiction of E. J. Reuk. I am, however, familiar with the author’s blogging, book reviews and editorials, and I’ve come to expect quality in all. Reuk’s fiction does not disappoint.

Reuk is up there with the best. Crisp, balanced prose. A unique, well-told story. And a protagonist and antagonist the reader won’t be able to get enough of. I’m thrilled The Ward is just the first book in a series.

Will appeal to: thriller buffs, horror fans, those who lean toward the paranormal.

What I didn’t like: the story bogged down a bit during a rather lengthy visit to the world of horse jumping.

Final comment? The Ward is the reason I keep sifting through the galaxy of small and independent publishers; the novel is unique, and it’s very good.

Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2009

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REVIEW: Maxwell's Silver Hammer, The Hussies by Ciana Stone from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Maxwell's Silver Hammer, The Hussies
Author: Ciana Stone
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Paranormal
Publication Date: July 2008
ISBN: 9781419917059
Length: Super Plus Novel
Format: eBook
Reviewer: WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com

Recruited to help find a priceless artifact, Nikki Morgan encounters more than just the dream of incredible sex with a fantastic lover; she encounters the very lover from her dreams. Now the "waking dreams" have her teetering on the edge of reality as she tries to keep things within their own realm.

Max Weston is nowhere near what every one supposes him to be. He is simply trapped within himself and yet Nikki seems to be the only person to not only realize it, but to want to help him. But Max hasn't survived this long by allowing himself to trust anyone, especially the very woman who has plagued his dreams when he sleeps and has begun to "invade" his waking moments.

I loved this one, simply for the fact that there were two realities that seemed to merge at the most inappropriate times. It did get a bit confusing if you read it too fast so I suggest you take your time and savor the flavor as these two dissimilar people learn the hardest lesson there is; to trust when everything within you screams to run the other way. The Hussies series is a favorite as it takes ordinary women and shows the depths of their strength, the greatness of their spirit and the open capacity of their hearts to accept and love- plus the hotter than hot sex makes one just simply want to try everything you read.

REVIEW: Reunited, Gargoyles Seduced, Book One by Sally Painter from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Reunited, Gargoyles Seduced, Book One
Author: Sally Painter
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Paranormal
Publication Date: July 2008
ISBN: 9781419917035
Length: Super Plus Novel
Format: eBook
Reviewer: WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com

Treated as a lunatic by those who should have believed her, wanting only to build a new life, Jen Ormond has no intention of ever setting foot in her hometown again. Then a mysterious "accident" takes the lives of her parents and she's once more surrounded by the memories and "visions of the past- one of which flies away after rescuing her. Hoping she's not about to end up back in the looney tunes factory, she sets out to discover once and for all who's crazy- her or the hobgoblins running around town.

Garrett Dermonte' has been searching for the woman who is supposed to bring his clan back together for hundreds of years. He's finally found her,but so have the demons who have also been searching for her. What he didn't expect was for the forbidden to occur and himself to perpetrate it. Now he must find a way to prevent fate from making the other half of his heart pay for his transgression.

Legends that pertain to all beings, hot, steamy sex, fights, wars, and that's just the small stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Jen go from being a timid nonentity to a strong, blazing female, while the gorgeous Garrett was the domineering male who learned to be a just a wee bit more understanding. There's betrayals abounding, demons surrounding, sexual bonding and just plain meanness to make this one a page turner to enjoy more than once.

BLOG CHALLENGE: 31 Days to Building a Better Blog Bloggiesta! Ole!

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Google Alert Mini-Challenge

This mini-challenge is pretty simple and I found it on EmilysReadingRoom. Using one of the tasks from the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog, we will be creating Google Alerts. I don't currently use Google Alerts, but if you use them frequently for a book blog such as this, it is a good tool to keep up on trends in the book industry and keep abreast of what other bloggers are talking about.

So my plan is to join in with this mini-challenge in the hope of improving this blog and network with like-minded souls, while spreading the word about AR and having fun at the same time. Head on over to ProBlogger and read the instructions on setting up a useful Google Alert.

Make sure you've been over to Maw Books Blog to sign up for the Bloggiesta! Ole! When you are finished, post a comment in the comments section to win some fabulous prizes!

You are welcome to leave a comment here, too! Then I'll return the favour and visit your site to see what challenges you are doing. Have fun!

BLOG AWARDS: The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Today is Saturday, which is the one day of the week I will award book blogs my own Alternative-Reader's The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval! This will be given in recognition of their dedication and enthusiasm in sharing informative and entertaining book news. Book lovers are truly an inspiration to us all and this is my way of simply saying thank you, I love your blog!

Each winner can add this picture above to their blog and link back here, should they wish to. That's all there is to do. If you receive this award and would like to forward it on to other bloggers you feel deserve the award, that's fine by me, but there is absolutely no pressure to do so.

The Saturday Sassy Stamp of Approval today goes to three bloggers. I nominate:

MizB17 @ Should be Reading! Check out this and her other blogs.

Congratulations! I love your blog!

There are so many more I want to give this award to, luckily there are an infinity of Saturday's to do it in.

Sassy
:)

REVIEW: BloodWorks by N. D. Hansen-Hill

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Clayton Bye

Title: BloodWorks
Author: N. D. Hansen-Hill
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Publication date: May 2009
ISBN: 9781419920066
Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller
Format: Advance Reviewer Copy (ARC)

Buy eBook: $6.99 USD

Reviewer: Clayton Bye
Alternative-Read.com

Bio

N. D. Hansen-Hill writes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror and, as Melody Knight, romantic novels. She has 43 published or contracted books with various companies, including Cerridwen Press, The Lotus Circle, Five Star, Linden Bay Romance, Red Rose Publishing, Fictionwise, Drollerie Press, and Cyberwizard Productions.

Review of BloodWorks

Josh Griffin has leukemia. He’s also got a dead man living inside his head. What he doesn’t know is that his blood carries the cure for both problems. Still recuperating from a macabre attempt on his life, Josh is suddenly on the run in the California desert, pursued by several different groups who all want his blood. Half crazy, shot in the leg and saddled with two New Zealanders, Josh must depend on friends and enemies alike to wrest him from the nightmare his life has become.

A tale full of suspense, action and even horror, I would have to label N. D. Hansen-Hill’s latest novel a sci-fi thriller. BloodWorks as a story reminds me of a number of great thrillers (like Coma) where the world of medicine or medical research has gone mad. Unfortunately, as an individual read, the comparison doesn’t hold up. Yes, the writing hurtles along, and the unsettling feeling I had when reading Coma was also there. The story itself? Terrific. Yet, somehow, I was disappointed.

I’ve read Hansen-Hill’s work before. I thought Gilded Folly was an awesome novel. But the author didn’t manage her character development in BloodWorks nearly as well as she did in Gilded Folly. You see, N. D. Hansen-Hill fills her books with all kinds of well-defined characters. This is something I like about her writing. In this book, however, I had some trouble keeping her characters identified through the first part of the tale. They blurred together. It wasn’t until I reached the halfway point in the novel that her characters gelled for me. In a way, the story progressed in the same manner. I found myself thinking that a number of the transitions were just too abrupt, that there wasn’t enough description going on.

This doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book or that I’m not going to recommend it. Hansen-Hill’s stories are always interesting. And even with the concerns mentioned, BloodWorks is an entertaining read. It’s just that I seem to be coming across this kind of editing more and more. Exposition is done in the characters’ minds or as seen through the eyes of those characters, which means lots of internal monologue. Some books are even being written primarily in dialogue. This results in much less imagery, much less setting. And I’m of the opinion the techniques diminish the effectiveness of the stories. Is this trend an effort to keep word counts down? Or is it some new style? I don’t know the answer, and I don’t like it.

MY FRIDAY FIND: Handling the Undead! (June 19th)

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

For my Friday Find this week I have come across this although it's not yet published in the UK:

Yes, another zombie book!

The Amazon product information:

The acclaim that greeted John Avide Lindqvist’s earlier book, Let the Right One In, was quite unprecedented. Over the years, there had been many attempts to revivify (no pun intended) the vampire novel, with varying degrees of success. But Lindqvist’s fascinating take on the genre took the books world by storm, and his innovations were consolidated by a highly successful movie. The fusion of different elements (including pre-teen protagonist and the customary sexual undercurrents of the genre) was handled with absolute authority, and it’s refreshing to report that Lindqvist’s latest novel, Handling the Undead, builds on the success of the earlier novel – and adds a whole new strata of interest. Inevitably, there is not the sense of innovation of Let the Right One In -- how could there be? – but there is much here that is new.
Stockholm is in the grip of strange and unsettling events; a heatwave has the population sweltering – and a strange phenomena seems to be making it impossible for people to switch their lights and electrical appliances on and off. But – most disturbing of all – in the city morgue, the recently deceased are once again becoming ambulatory. And the walking dead want one thing: to come home.
As the above suggests, this is a very different kettle of fish from Let the Right One In, and what makes it particularly intriguing is the elegiac tone to be found alongside the bizarre supernatural happenings. Handling the Undead is unlikely to enjoy the level of success of the earlier book (even when the inevitable movie appears), but it is a highly commendable follow-up. --Barry Forshaw

I can't wait to get my hands on this! Has anyone seen the movie (Let the Right One In) of his first vampire book? I've never even heard of it, but I want to see it now I've watched the trailer. Maybe the film wasn't released in the UK. If you look here you can see the film's website, and watch the trailer, but be warned it is R rated (I think that means 18+ here in the UK) and pretty scary.

What is your Friday Find?

Friday Finds is a blog meme hosted by Mizb17 at Should be Reading.

REVIEW: Last Strathulian Standing by Daisy Dexter Dobbs from Ellora's Cave

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Title: Last Strathulian Standing
Author: Daisy Dexter Dobbs
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Website of Publisher: http://www.ellorascave.com
Genre: Romantica/Erotica/Menage a trois or More/Fantasy
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN: 9781419918711
Length: Short Novel
Format: eBook
Reviewer: WitchGiggles
Alternative-Read.com

Due to the atrocities of war, Jia-Nian has the rather dubious honor of being the sole survivor of her people. Found by Aydon the Bold while attempting to light the funeral pyre for the last members of the Strathulian people, but most especially her brother, their tempestuous relationship sets into motion an old prophecy destined to change the world. For the woman warrior is not at all what she appears.

Aydon has long been a Guardian of Zalvanus, along with his cursed best friend, Danior, but has never run into a more stubborn, deaf to reason female than the feisty Jia-Nian. Unfortunately for both of them, she makes their blood sing and their hearts shine with joy so they have little choice other than to keep her with them and protect her with their lives.

The depth of the characters as they developed their triad relationship was a bit of a surprise considering how hard Aydon tried to rid himself of Jia-Nian in the beginning, but it was the strength of her commitment to a people she had never known that was the most intriguing. There are some very graphic descriptions of rape and brutality as well as violent deaths, so if you're not up to those I guess this might not be for you; but then you're going to miss those extremely steamy sex scenes.

REVIEW: How to Argue and Win Every Time ~ Gerry Spence ~ St. Martin Press ~ Persuasion/Psychology

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Lucille

Title: How to Argue and Win Every Time

Author: Gerry Spence
Website of Author: http://www.gerryspence.com/index2.html
Website of Publisher: http://us.macmillan.com/smp.aspx
Genre: Persuasion/Psychology
Publication date: April 15, 1996
ISBN-10: 0312144776 ; also, ISBN-13: 978-0312144777
Length: 307 pages
Format: Hardcover
Reviewer: Lucille P Robinson
Alternative-Read.com

This is more of a testimonial than a review. I feel deeply about the attitudes portrayed between the covers of this book. I bought the book ages ago and I'm now 63 years old. I've had the book all these years and not looked inside. The first time I tried reading it, it sounded like it would be one of those hard to read/hard to understand law books or college thesis type of stuff, so I laid it aside. But I love books so much that when I get one I'm determined to keep it until I read it. This was the case with How to Argue and Win Every Time.

I can only say that I regret so much not having read the book when I first bought it. The insights could have helped me with all my relationships down through the years. Here are some of the things I regret not learning way back there:

1) I learned I wasn't always losing an argument when I backed off. All my life I've loved peace and quiet and never relished the idea of confrontations. Hated to face off and preferred to just walk away. I could have walked away with more dignity had I read this book way back yonder.

2) I found out how to keep my kids from hating me and get more understanding from them. My kids grew up okay, but they could have been reared with a better handle on coping with adulthood and business than what they turned out being.

3) I learned my marriage didn't have to hit the rocks. Nope, I didn't get a divorce because I've always believed 'until death do us part' and believe that when a person makes a vow, that vow must be kept. The Bible says,

"It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not pay."

You'll always be held accountable for it. Yet, had I learned some of these attitudes back then, my marriage would have been better.

4) There are many other truths—I believe they are truths—in this book that will help parents understand their children and lighten up. I think the problem driving parents harder than anything else is the fear of failure as parents and that this failure will surely show up in their children as poor behavior, bad habits, and crime.

5) Yes, I've tried his methods outlined in this book and they work with my children and husband. From here on out, I'm determined to keep in mind these things Mr. Spence has tried to tell the world and make some changes in my own attitudes because of his writings. I've always prided myself in being able to look at another's problems and the way they've worked through them, and learn lessons that way rather than the hard way. Although I will admit I haven't always been successful.

This book contains a Contents page and an Index for ease in use. There is no need to read from page 1 to page 307, but if you don't you're missing a lot. My recommendations concerning who should read this book are: those in government in Washington, D.C., governors and mayors of every state and city, esp. school board organizations world-wide, every parent and would-be parent, and every child old enough to read.

Author Bio:

I could list all kinds of great things about Gerry Spence here, but you can go to his website to read all of that. I find Mr. Gerry Spence one of the best psychologists I've heard speak in a long time. I find him contrary to the most popular view of lawyers around my home town. I find him knowledgeable in those things that concern me: family, friends, co-workers, and others—even my neighbors. Read his bio on his website and you'll find that he has enough credits on his name to cover all of these boasts I've made.

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