Coming Soon...A New Free Read!

For those who like freebies, look for "Embraced by the Sun," which I will be putting up as a free novel on my website this month. Unconventional, raw and mildly twisted... It's an origin story for a not so nice hero.

Slither b. Edward Lee

Slither by Ed Lee


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another book from those wonderful publishers of horror fiction, Leisure Books. I didn’t know it until after the book came in, but suffice to say if you are looking for a scary read, check out their catalog! My first book by Edward Lee, “Slither” provides a good amount of chills, grotesque scenes, horrifying deaths and creatures that will make you squirm. It is about worms, small ones and large ones and even larger ones that have infested an island that folks (college kids and rednecks) just can’t stay away from. The book kept me turning the pages quite swiftly, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Filled with a great deal of sex, murder and mayhem, it is definitely not for the weak of heart. It even has something in it for zombie lovers!

The surprise twist towards proved to be a tad far out (literally), and because of it, I would have to say it knocked a star off for me, but overall this was a chilling gem!

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Prador Moon b. Neal Asher

Prador Moon by Neal Asher


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After having read Neal Asher's "Cowl" it felt so good to dig into fun, uncomplicated science fiction with daring battles, a dastardly villianous alien race, kick-ass weapons and starships, a larger-than-life hero and a plucky female heroine. "Prador Moon" is a short novel based in Asher's Polity Universe , which depicts the first contact between the humans and the crab-like Prador species, who swiftly find out that humans are tasty.

While the ending comes a little abruptly, this is one gem that I would definitely recommend for sci-fi lovers!

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Cowl b. Neal Asher

Cowl by Neal'>http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56353.Neal_Asher">Neal Asher

My rating: 4'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69065498">4 of 5 starsIf you like hardcore science fiction with a bit of Barron von Munchausen, a tad of time-manipulating demonspawns, a splash of Bladerunner and a whole lot of complex scientific terminology then you will love this book. I must admit, it was a bit heavy for me and I was never truly clear of the mechanisms behind the time travel but was impressed by the weight of the scenes and descriptions none the less. Definitely need to read some fluff now.
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Free Read: The Thief of His Heart

Not every work gets published, not every work fits the guidelines or quality level of publishers, this I know. And while I love getting contracts on works, sometimes and with some stories, they need to be set free. "The Thief of His Heart" is the second free novel released on my website and while it is a little rough around the edges, I think it's a charm filled with cat wickedness.

Some have said why don't you revise it and try to get it published, but like the other free read on my website "An Alpha's Desire" I just didn't want to. Both stories were rejected several times, I'll be the first to admit and while, with some work they might garner me profit, I just didn't want to change them.

Perhaps, I'm impatient or lazy, and after a few pages of reading, maybe the stories are no more than clumsly works in need of a strong critique, but...they're free and they're mine and better luck with the next story getting published, I say.

I have a few works that are looking for contracts now, but even if they fail to, one writer's rule I follow faithfully is : Keep On Writing!

Artwork by P.L. Nunn

"Servant: The Acceptance" b. L.L. Foster

Servant: The Acceptance by L.L. Foster


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked this book and found the L.L.Foster's idea of the contemporary paladin idea really fascinating. I really enjoyed the main character, Gabrielle Cody's relationship with her handsome, by the book cop. It is so filled with anticipation that I hung on their every scene. What I didn't understand, was the villian/s, who were so evil that I really did expect more of a supernatural bent to their background. This book can be read as stand alone as it touches upon enough backstory for me. Although there is a book before this one, I am interested to see the sequel...for one, I want the two main characters to hook up.

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"The Lost Colony" b. John Scalzi

The Last Colony by John Scalzi


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What can I say about this last book in what has proven itself to be a really tight and expertly woven trilogy? In this last book, threads that begun in "Old Man's War" came together with "The Ghost Brigades" in a very durable cloth. The arrogance of the CDF against the threat unlike any other (seriously) is the back drop for John Perry, the hero from the first book and his wife Jane (ex-Special Forces). Suffice to say, I was blown away by the scope of odds, and even more so by being able to understand the so called villains perspective. This is not a light read by any means, but the ending resolution fit perfectly!

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"The Ghost Brigades" b. John Scalzi

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Picking up where 'Old Man's War' left off, "The Ghost Brigades' focuses on the special forces members of the Colonial Defense Federation. A much more philosophical book than the first, it really delves into what it means to be human. Special forces soldiers are made from the dna of the deceased rather than the consciousness of live ones in this book, and they give new meaning to the term 'superhuman.' One solider in particular, Jared Dirac, has the fate of the entire human race in his hand. Made from the dna of a traitorous scientist, and imbued with the man's ghost of consciousness, he is both the greatest threat and salvation of humanity, in a hostile universe and the suspect Federation. More so than with the first book, this one effects the emotions.

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Oh yeah...It was for a great cause too!!

So after work today, I got on the red line and headed downtown to attend the "Readers for Life" Literacy Signing sponsored by RWA. As the mighty romance convention is this week and being held in Washington, D.C., I decided to head on down and see the sights. Boy, did I feel like the intimidated wall-flower. With sci-fi novel in hand, I stood in line for almost an hour before being released into a veritable den of authors, for the mass charity signing. To say it was overwhelming would be an understatement. Over a hundred authors were there and after grabbing the two signed books I specifically came to get, I ran into two other must have reads. God, but I would have loved to stop by every table. As it was, I got to chat with Ally Blue and Shayla Black, two authors with e-publishing chops and Lori Foster, whose convention I would love to attend. Sabrina Jeffries also gave me a wonderful autograph for my friend at work! The authors were there in force with goodies and it really made me excited and determined to one day join their ranks...in the meantime, I have a lot to read :D

"Old Man's War" b. John Scalzi

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am really enjoyed this book. Currently on a sci-fi kick, I was referred to this gem of a series by a friend. I must say that coming off the Huff "Confederation" series, kinda tainted my awe of the features of this piece but that Scalzi's sense of humor and respect for mortality really made it stand apart. I liked the idea of senior citizens being chosen for intergalactic battle and most of all, the first half of the book is simply phenomenal. The speculation, the hope and the anguish of a man who has lived his life through and who is about to start another, is a gripping moment to focus on and I really look forward to starting the second in the series "The Ghost Brigades" soon. Aliens, war, technology and new worlds abound, but throughout, John Perry the main character proves why the experience of an Old Man is just what the human race needs.


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"Seven Deadly Wonders" b. Matthew Reilly

Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
Hey...It had to happen at some point right? Me finding a Reilly book just shy of unbearable. Having read at least five of his books and loved them, this book was a bit much. It stars a new hero for me, Jack West Jr. who has a mechanical arm and is Indiana Jones on crack. This book is archeologically heavy, and is basically about the search for a pyramid capstone which could mean either devastation for the world or the empowerment of a nation. It has the crack team of commandos, whose badass qualities are diminished by child-like call names like Pooh Bear and Big Ears...

Something that I usually like- illustrations and diagrams in the text- is used a bit too much and I just didn't get the usual hardcore, grittiness that I tend to get from his work. Another difficulty I had was the fact that through deadly gunfire, difficult missions and even more deadly, ancient traps, the team of commandos is escorting a ten year old girl...Ooookkkkaayy... I want my SHANE SCHOFIELD back...or a story about Black Knight at least.



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What? I Can't Write All The Time?

I spend an abnormal about of time at my computer desk and while my kids, Zoe and Cougar can't stand it, (sometimes they even protests) I can get a lot done at my workstation. I can write, play World of Warcraft, shop, watch cable or dvds, listen to my tunes, answer calls, etc.

It's not the healthiest lifestyle, I know and I often tell myself that as soon as x,y,z goals are met that I will get up and away from my workstation and do something more active. I often fail miserably.

This weekend I made it a point to go to a writer's workshop, mainly because Treva Harte, editor and co-owner of Loose-ID, was going to be there. Still, it felt so good to be able to get out, not just to talk about craft, but to get out an participate in something. I will admit that for the most part lately, I have become a bit of a hermit. I used to go clubbing, used to get out and exercise, socialize too...but I don't and writing and gaming are not the only reasons why. They are pretty good exucuses though.

As I finish up my current writing project, one of the things foremost on my things to do, is get more involved in outside ventures, a bookclub and a gym mainly. I have more stories to tell, so I need to be in good shape and fairly healthy to write them. But I can't write all the time.

"Valor's Trial" b. Tanya Huff

Valor's Trial by Tanya Huff

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
While this book blew me away, it's more like standing in the wave of a nuclear blast and watching everything blow away and I'm still standing by some unnatural stroke of luck. This book, which could be the last piece of the Confederation novels, isn't the weakest one but its not the strongest either. I am very much a fan of Book 1 & 2, but it was vital that for me to finish the whole series. Gunnery Sergeant Kerr is still badass, however and her feats in this book catapult her to legendary status. Trapped in an underground prison, odds stacked way high and with faltering morale, Torin Kerr has to overcome some serious hurdles for her freedom and the freedom of her fellow marines.



Once again, Tanya Huff writes some amazingly endearing characters, and once again she deals some heavy, death scenes...In a sentence or two at times...but with no less punch.



While the book comes to a decent end, I hope that Tanya Huff uses this universe again at some point. Her world-building and character development are so rich, that they are a joy to experience.


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"Life As We Knew It" b. Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Survival literature is what this book should be called although I hear that it is a young adult book. Referred to me by a friend, I was interested in a diasaster read and the book looked to be a fairly quick read. The novel focuses on a girl named Miranda and her diary's through an apocalyptic disaster. From worries about high school and boys to worries on how to survive with rationed food, no water and no electrcity. This book will depress you and make you paranoid beyond belief. You will be checking to make sure you have a supply of bottled water, looking at your canned goods and making sure you have supplies of medicine and batteries. From diary entry to diary entry, the reader progresses through the harrowing events caused by the moon being knocked too close to Earth. Volcanos, earthquakes and of course tidal waves ensue. Looting, violence and scavaging abound...and through it all a girl becomes a woman.


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The Heart of Valor b. Tanya Huff

The Heart of Valor by Tanya Huff

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


Gunnery Sergenant Torin Kerr is back again, kicking ass and keeping folk alive in the heat of battle. As I become more and more emmersed in the world of Huff's making, I still have no idea what the H'San look like. Still the Di'Taykan and the Krai make great soldiers in arms, as Kerr is chosen to accompany a recovering General, his civilian doctor and a platoon of new newb Marines to Cruicible, an intense battle-training planet designed to train efficent soldiers. Needless to say that things go south pretty much thereafter.



Huff manages to write a fetching sequel in the Valor series and while this book is not as hard edged as the first in the series, Huffs talent for writing engaging seiges, battle planning, space jargon and alien sexual inneuendo is superb! I can't wait to get my hands on book 4!!!


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Late Balticon Report

Monday, May 25, 2009

Well, as I am writing this report, I am gearing up to go for my last shift in the game room at Balticon. From 1a.m.-9a.m., this has been an intriguing and enlightening experience for me. This being my first Balticon and a convention with a great deal of writer-centric program offerings, I really felt that I got something out of this experience other than credit card receipts. I attended several cool panels, namely “Seducing the Editor,” “Villains in Science Fiction” and “Peddling Smut.” I might have attended more but as it was, I have been wiped out by the late night game room monitoring.

I got to meet some very cool people, namely gay writer J.M. Snyder, Phaze publisher Kathryn Lively and publisher/writer Alessia Brio, all of who gave me great tips and advice. I received several free books, advertisements, cds and yes I received a Bookworm Bag!! Ahh, the promo stuff that I have to go through, the suggestions that I want to follow up on—it’s all so daunting and exciting at the same time. Attending a convention more geared towards writers is such a refreshing jump starter and I am so glad I came. Although, my cats, Zoe and Cougar might be a tad pissy.

While much, much smaller than other cons I have attended, I have to say that I love having a short wait for the elevator, no crowds that make maneuverability in the halls a nightmare and having workshops that do not have to be held in an auditorium. I do have to learn how to pace myself better, especially if I am going to work at night, but other than that, I have had a wonderful time this Memorial weekend. I even purchased the cutest little addition to my office Godzilla and friends’ collection. I also purchased a copy of the hilarious “Zombies versus Ninjas,” the horror-comedy which was premiered at the con. The directors (I think they were) were there and convinced me to give this low-budget gem a look see. They also recommended their podcast Suckcast, both have turned out to be gems.

I definitely plan on attending next year, if only just to see one of my new favorite writers, Tanya Huff!!!

"A Confederation of Valor" b. Tanya Huff

A Confederation of Valor by Tanya Huff

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
If I had a daughter, I would press this book into her hands so that she could truly see that women can be badasses and leaders just as sure as any male! Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr is a beast! She's a Marine through and through. Tanya Huff portrays the 'Leave No One Behind' soldier as a profound leader in the face of truly horrific circumstances. "A Confederation of Valor" is actually two novels in one: "Valor's Choice" and "The Better Part of Valor." While the first book is more emotionally wracking, both books carry Ms. Huff's talent for witty conversation, military and scientific jargon and claustrophobic chaotic action. These books are definitely not romantic and far from chick lit! Pure hardcore action with a colorful array of aliens, the most profound being the every horny Di'Taykan and the mysteriously absent but always discussed H'san. As I reach for the 3rd book in the series, I am so glad that I picked up this recommendation from a friend. Kerr is as much if not more of a badass than Ripley from the "Aliens" series and the villains are only slightly less vicious and I luv it!


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Balticon and Back in the Day Geekdom...

I actually have the 2nd edition and the 4th edition of the Advanced Dungeon & Dragons Player's Handbook and played for a long time prior to finding World of Warcraft. Gaming in worlds built upon fantasy, has always been a favorite pasttime of mine. Back when I first started hitting cons, I went to a very geeky, but comfortable, friendly and small sci-fi and gaming con called Evecon/Castlecon. Talk about awesome! Getting to meet other geeks like myself, to game in the LAN room, and talk sci-fi was like heaven. It lasted for a few good years, but when it ended I was a bit lost. I had friends working for Katsucon, a japanese anime con with some gaming thrown in and so I decided to work for their staff. While there were some geeky elements, there wasn't nearly enough sci-fi and live action for me and I will admitt that the amount of yipping kids in costumes pretending to be Cloud or Tifa just didn't do it for me. (However the guy dressed as General Grievious kicked ass)

Anyway, I have worked at Katsucon for the past 4 years and all the while, I kept hearing about Balticon. A friend gave me a program last year, and I'll admit that it was the writer's programming that got me first, but the when I saw all the sci fi programs, I was determined to attend! And then I found out that I recognized a lot of the writers attending. Oh yeah, it was a must.

Initially, I figured I would go in writer persona, but nah, the geek in me won out and I ended up accepting a job. So this year, I will be in table top gaming, where I can watch (and play) some of the cool table top games. (Debating about bringing Magic cards) I will have my muse with me and will be doing some brain storming for my next project (hint: Guard) and hope to get a few autographs and books.

Wish me endurance...I allways end up sleep deprived and exhausted by the last day but expect to have a good time.

The Grind...

Contrary to some folk's suspicion, my new found love of World of Warcraft is not the reason why I have no upcoming releases. I will say that it makes waiting on the Muse and editors, a little easier to bear though. (And I'm getting closer to lvl 30 upon which I can purchase my first mount)

Currently, I have a novel and a short story seeking homes and one novel that needs an overhaul before it can find one. As I have said before, I'm mainly a story teller trying to be a writer, and while I could throw a story up on my website every month, they wouldn't necessarily be sales-worthy. Thus I am in my grinding period currently, trying to rein in my chaotic, sorcerer novel. Work has not yet started on the Guardian sequel, which wants to be more action and less erotica. I have a half-finished Vamp/Wolf tale which is begging for attention and then there is 'Bulletproof'...which may be my next short story challenge. I don't know. Even without plans for submission, I *have* to write...something, anything....my crocodile tale?

Well as I grind away, 2-4 hours a day at my craft, and while I've been grinding pretty well in Darkshire, I am afraid to admitt that sometimes I suspect my literary grinding may be a little chaotic. Appart from WoW, writing is my main obsession and sometimes I get so caught up in writing, in getting the story down, that my editing is ussualy on EPIC-Fail levels... So for those waiting for a new release from me, just know that that I am grinding still...

My Muse Sam...aka the Acer One...

One the Road with my new muse, Sam. I suspected some time ago that I had tendencies to be whinny, and throw tantrums when I didn’t get what I wanted or whenever I felt moody about something. Well, currently (I mean at the very moment that I am writing this) I am using my new Acer One mini-netbook which after my internal debate, I decided, had to be mine.

The netbook is a small, laptop that is highly portable and streamlined for easy internet access and simple tasks. It has no CD or DVD drive and while it does have a 160 GB memory, it has 3 USB ports for the addition of extra devices such as a wireless mouse, an optical drive, or a printer. It can download new software easily and whoa…it comes with a webcam… And no you will not be seeing me on YouTube any time soon.

As a writer’s tool, I consider my purchase of Sam (my muse) to cover several levels of necessity.

1) Vacation Writing. Just because I am currently on the way to Puerto Rico, to walk around in my one piece with a massive girly drink filled with fruit an drum is no excuse for me not to write when I get there.

2) Tax Write –Off. Yup at a cost of about $299 (they run anywhere between $299-$499 depending on battery and maker as far as I can tell) at least you can show you tax-man a little expenditure other than your yearly ream of paper and promo costs.

3) Conferences. This is kinda like number 1 but you’ll probably be able to do some note taking, take down contacts and numbers quickly and (YUP) work on that story that your editor is waiting on.

4) Portability. The size of my netbook is compatible with the size of my (slightly) over-sized purse. I know because I put the floor model up against the side of my purse to make sure. Of course I bought the protective sleeve for Sam though. They don’t weigh much at all, less than 3 pounds and seriously, the idea of buying a bag or a bookpack for one of these guys seems a little odd to me. You can take them anywhere.

5) Reading. I hear tell that the Kindle is a wonderful device and if I were solely a reader of trashy novels and not also a writer of said trashy novels, I’d be okay with that but the netbook allows me to download the latest Loose-Id release, read a bit (I can magnify the font all I want) and then get my ass back to work on that novel that was supposed to be turned in last month.

There are many other reasons that a person (writer) might want to invest in an extremely portable and capable netbook that does not have the capacity to handle World of Warcraft (and if it can do NOT tell me so, I should be writing damnit). Sure the keypad is small and the battery life isn’t much ( I need the 6 hour, got the 3) but most importantly…The Acer One that I purchased from Staples came pre-installed with Windows XP and a trial version of Microsoft Home and Student. I am currently using MS Word…WHOOOOHOOOO. While I could later decide that I want to you Open Office or any other word processing program, I am a fanatic about MS Word. They have another version of the netbook that comes with Linux for the anti-Microsoft folk and well…I’m sure Apple will come out with a mini laptop (but honestly they get enough of my money through the Itunes and Istore.)

Overall for the writer on the go and for the writer with a guilty conscience, I would highly suggest this cutie!

Castaways b. Brian Keene

Castaways by Brian Keene

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
First off I have to say that that this book was wildly entertaining. It was the perfect horror, beach-read for my vacation on a tropical island. The story is based around contestant on a reality-based show that strongly resembles ‘Survivor.’ Left with a television crew and meager supplies, they are at first consumed by competing in the show’s challenges and for alliances with other contestants. Such paltry concerns are quickly laid aside however, once the supposedly uninhabited island reveals its secret. There are monsters on the island, and they not only love to eat human...they also like to mate with them.



Now I will admit that although I have a strong stomach, there were scenes in this book that made me nauseous but it was an good, swift read with plenty of comeuppance and suspense. This book gets a 4 out of 5 from me.






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Switch b. Claire Thompson

Switch by Claire Thompson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a touching tale of D/s which I thoroughly enjoyed, in fact I found myself in the end wishing that the tale were a longer one. ‘Switch’ is the tale of Dane Bishop a Dom who walks the walk and looks the part. He takes pride in his reputation as a Dom at night and is a hard working real estate banker during the day. When he first sets eyes on Nathan Levi however, he is immediately jarred by the disheveled yet gorgeous man’s assumption of Dane being a submissive.


While Dane balks at the idea initially, he is drawn to the allure of the other Dom. What I loved so much about this book was Claire Thompson’s ability to separate the show and pageantry of the BDSM scene from the intimacy and the intensity of the commitment that is the D/s lifestyle. I do not profess to be an expert, but I found this novel to be a delightful treat. It is rather short at 204 pages and greedily I wished to see more scenes, but overall I give this work 4 stars easy.





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V-The Second Generation b. Kenneth Johnson

V: The Second Generation by Kenneth Johnson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can’t help wishing that some producer will revamp the V series from my 80s childhood and give the project a renewed life in the same vein as Battlestar Galactica. I mean the idea of those giant saucers hovering over an entire city, the special effects of a Visitor getting his skin torn off to reveal the reptilian glory beneath, but alas…V the Second Generation does provide a wonderful flashback to the past. Yes the resistance is still fighting on, and not very well. For old fans, there are many characters that will be recognized from the mini-series and tv show, but even for those who never saw an episode, they can still enjoy the work.



The fascist, devious, propaganda spewing aliens have the same agenda: to eat our vermin and us, to steal all of our water and …impregnate our women. However the need us for a different reason, to fight their dreaded enemies, another intergalactic race called the Zedti who appear on Earth, to perhaps help us, or not…



While I did not know why Kenneth Johnson changed the idea of mixed-breeds looking human or reptilian instead of both, I liked how he drew a parallel of racism and oppression. Instead of being powerful, telepathic and emphatic superbeings, they are the lowest of the low, dregs.



The Zedti are remarkable, but slightly confusing as they are not just one race but several and yet all seem to have the hive mentality, but they are an interesting addition to the battle. I say interesting but in a film I don’t know how well they would work. While they don’t derive from reptiles, they are an intriguing mix.

Once again, for those looking to revisit an oldie but goodie franchise, this is an entertaining novel. 4 ½ out 5 stars would be my vote.




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Why Amazon Why?

Ussually, I try to keep my opinions of controversial issues out of my blog, but a rather interesting thing has occured that I have to note. So, upon checking out the Amazon listing of my book "A Guardian's Desire," I have discovered that the ranking is no longer there. I am so not alone in this as many of my colleagues and fellow writers of 'adult'-themed materials have had the same thing happen to them. Due to the stupidity of some Amazon employee, adult books are not being ranked and in some cases aren't even showing up on searches. I am a firm believer that I should be able to search and buy whatever I want. Their censorship is wrong and foul considering those that purchase many adult titles from them. Efforts are in place to fight this idiocy, but I can't believe that in this day and time, readers (and I am an avid one) who spend money at Amazon have to put up with this bullshit.

Please see Amazon Rankings for more info.

Short Story Progress Meter

OMG!! What? No Meter is here? Oh because I finished it! I finished it! Mya can write a short story after all (now whether its good is a whole other ball of wax) but the renamed, MF paranormal, bondage tale heretofore known as "Higher Learning" is complete as 24,861!

"Bestial" b. Ray Garton

Bestial by Ray Garton

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I had to snatch this book up after reading the prequel "Ravenous," because the first book was gripping, original, hard-core werewolf intensity! Sure, I was feigning for more back story in the first book and wanted to know how it was that the werewolves in the book were so feral and how the werewolves originated. I had soo many questions that I was expecting to have answered in the sequel.

Well, "Bestial" is a different type of book, let me say. It answers some questions I had and introduces even more. There's also some changes. The werewolves have more control over themselves, the sex is less seedy and is instead more raunchy and... bestial. As with the other works by Garton that I have read, there are some tragic deaths and lots of insane happenings. But for folk who like "Ravenous," and I find it to be the better novel, "Bestial" has several main characters, none of whom I cared much for and it's more of an action novel with lots of religious references, rather than the lone-wolf, crazed but charismatic werewolf hunter in the first book. Overall though, it was a good read and not every one is a manic werewolf enthusiast with a hunger for back story. Was it wrong that the most interesting person in the book is the villan...Oh well, I highly await the next Garton monster tale.


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Short Story Progress Meter

Perspective

Short Story Progress Meter

Perspective

Red b. Jordan Summers

Red by Jordan'>http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/26033.Jordan_Summers">Jordan Summers

My'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48542803?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really wanted to like this book. I thought that somehow the techno-western backdrop of the story would stand out more, and that the heroine and her mate might be a little less cliche. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read but uneven and rushed, especially the ending. I swear the last ten pages are a blur. Initially the underling mystery that drove the first 2/3 of the book was done well, and then it just collapsed. The sex scenes were rushed and squashed into one incident, the revelation of the villian was a lightening strike and the resolution was even more unstable. Also, I thought that the references to the 'Little Red Riding Hood' story were weak and unnecessary. The book does allude to having a sequel though, and if there is, I would probably check it out because Ms. Summers did build an intriguing futuristic world with really interesting characters. Although for a werewolf-fanatic, it's not good when I am more interested in the vampiric characters, than the weres...Still it is a good read.

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Mya Can Write A Short Story...Really...or Else...

Lately I have been so obsessed with short stories and my seemingly inability to write one. Okay so there are a lot of things I can't write but I like to try. At one point, I used to be able to write short pieces but that has faltered over the past two years. I want to go epic and world build and build up and as I have found out that is not always a good thing. So after sending off my latest novel (btw that would make two novels that are looking for publishers) I decided that maybe something short would be in order and set up a personal challenge for myself. I have twenty days to finish a short story. I have to do at least 1k per day. Well this is day two and I'm doing fairly well on MF piece (sorry but heh, both novels are MM). It's about a sorceress with a gift for bondage and the sorcerer who is better at it. So far, I'm having a ball.... My aspirations may go up in smoke in a few days, but I am going to give it a shot. Here's to ShoStoWriMo...or Short Story Writing Month :\

Perspective

"Shapeshifter" b. J.F. Gonzalez

Shapeshifter by J.F. Gonzalez

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
Of the many werewolf books that I have read, I have to say that the werewolf in this book is about as Omega as they come. Definitely, not the Alpha male type. The book was okay, but after reading Garton's "Ravenous" I was expecting something a bit more lethal and less cowering. There is the same lack of information though. Gonzalez introduces the main character as being a werewolf from the start, but he never explains how he got that way, which make the ending more than a bit curious. Filled with melodrama and a villain too petty to be believed, the books truly shinning scary moment came within the final pages. One word describes it best: comeuppance. Outside of that however, the rest of the book leans more heavily towards thriller than horror, but then I am really demanding with werewolf books. Also, I like my horror with a little less sap. I want a ratcheted pulse, not a tissue after reading.


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Aliens: Criminal Minds b. S.D. Perry

Aliens: Criminal Enterprise by S.D. Perry

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a seedy read, filled with all sorts of criminal decadence, drugs, murder, prostitution-- all painted with the background of a hostile planet filled with aliens. I really enjoyed Perry's dive into the psyches of criminals, psychopaths and wounded people driven by lust, greed, revenge and hope, dark hopes though. Off all the Aliens books that I have read, this one comes closest in my bid to see one made into a film. It would certainly have the action!



The book follows two brothers, shanghaied into working for a drugrunner for of course a dealer who keeps his product and labs on an alien infested planet. One innocent and law-abiding and the other hopeless enamored of the fast lane. It also follows the motivations of a lieutenant drug lord and his doped out cherry of a girlfriend who run the facility.



Two forces, one that wants to steal the shipment and the other who wishes to bring all the criminals to justice invade the facility on the same day and saying that all hell breaks loose would be putting it mildly.



Again, this is perhaps the best of the Aliens books that I have read, however, there was something about the ending that I simply could not stand and which nearly ruined my enjoyment of the book. I won't give details other than of all the survivors in the end, one just made me want to hurl.




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Hamster on a Wheel...

Okay, so I don't have any news about upcoming releases or anything, but I have been working away...wildly I might say. I don't know about other authors but I have been enjoying the writing/story telling process waaaay too much and need to discover where I left my inner editor. Short stories? I have forgotten what those are and things that should be 100 pages jump to nigh three hundred. To say that I get carried away sometimes is putting it mildly.

I will admit that I am no great wordsmith but I do love telling tales. Still I like being a published author too and by all means that entails creating a viable, edited, cohesive tale to readers. So...I have to slow down on starting new projects, which I would say that if I could edit and complete all the projects whose first draft, I have completed I might be able to get out 4 novels this year, but already the itch to move on to other projects is there, burning selfishly bright. There is some hot gargoyle loving, I'm feeling the itch for...waterwhip anyone? Okay...stopping the muse, right now!

Anyway, back to edit 4 of "Embraced by the Sun" and edit 2 of "Heart of Bast," and as for "Forever Guardian" the sequel to "A Guardian's Desire," I am already compiling the outline and notes for it...my other new project.

Ok...backing away from the wheel...

Aliens Book 2: Nightmare Asylum b. Steve Perry

Nightmare Asylum: Aliens Book 2 by Steve Perry

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was a fantastic read...in that a lot of fantastic things occur in it. Sure the heroes, Billie and Wilkes are back from book 1 in the series, are larger than life and luckier than a bum hitting the jackpot but outside of that is the Aliens themselves. The buggers never cease to amaze me in what they can do and how much they can learn. What I enjoyed most, outside of the frequent throwbacks to the movie series, is that nothing ever works out the way the heroes want it to. Sure they manage to get out of some narrow fixes but not they way they plan to. Why? Because the villain in this book is a smart and tricky fiend. General Spears is an insane man and not a person that I would ever want to meet. His idea of a great army is a bit frightening as well...stupid but frightening. Now, I'm anxious to get to the third book in this really good Aliens trilogy (the other one sucks).


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"Live Girls" b. Ray Garton

Live Girls by Ray Garton

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
What I learned from this book is that garlic is my best bet when encountering vampires, not crosses or bibles or holy water or even stakes. Garlic should do the trick! But seriously, this is my second book by Ray Garton and I enjoyed it so much that I finished it fairly quickly. What I really enjoyed about "Live Girls" is something that I'm hoping appears in all his work, which is the dark, truly horrifying portrayal of any monster that he deals with. This book is about vampires that are beasts, disgusting and seductive and horrifying.



The story is based around a peep-show/club called Live Girls. It is one of two havens for vampires in the book. During the narrative, several people fall victim to its allure and its danger. I found myself breezing through the pages, curious and shocked by every event. One thing I will say about Garton is that I definitely could not guess the ending.



Like "Ravenous" his werewolf novel, I was still left with questions... all involving backstory and details. Don't get me wrong, Garton fleshes his monsters out and gives you exactly what you need to turn the page...but damn...there seemed to be at least 3 types of vampires in the book and I wanted more DETAILS...yeah, I'm greedy.



Great horror read though, definitely!


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How DO you spell depression...C.R.A.S.H.

Suffice it to say that this has been a truly bad week for me. My beloved Dell PC of 4 years crashed on monday, after several frightening days of disappearing files and no internet connectivity. On Saturday, the edits I had completed for H.O.B. (70pages worth) just vanished, then the entire folder holding all of my 'Heart of Bast' files disappeared. I was seriously in shock but due to some serious dilligence and searching through temp. /hidden files I managed to retrieve my information but the ominous feeling was still running rampant. I knew that something was wrong. I couldn't get on the net and the system was running slow as hell.

So after a call to Dell Tech on Monday, I was told to do a system restore, after backing up all my data to my External HD. I was able to do the system restore but as my partitions were so corrupted it did nothing but leave me with a black screen. Because Dell didn't ship the O/S boot disks, I have to wait until I recieve them to get a good look at what I managed to salvage...and to get back to work....

Which brings me to my dilemma, without my computer I am going stir crazy and am literally reluctant to go home. It is my connection to the outside world, my passion and obsession and even more it is my drug. Instead of going home to work on my stories, I go home and crochet...even go to be early.

I am due to get the disks between thursday and saturday, but honestly the day can't come soon enough. Apparently, a downloaded spyware program was responsible for my computer 'Godzilla's' lapse into coma-land and I was warned by Dell to stick to my disk installed Norton. I was also commended for having a very large external hard drive, which I will either be crying about or singing praises to very soon... Ahh...just a few more days....can't take much more of this...

Aliens, Book 1: Earth Hive b. Steve Perry

Aliens, Book 1: Earth Hive by Steve Perry

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
What I learned from this book would be: that if I wanted to possibly study an advanced, killer, alien-species be it for military value, biological value or any value and said species could replicate faster than cockroaches...I wouldn't do it on my HOME PLANET.

Not related to the book 'Aliens: Cauldron,' which I just finished up, this is the first book in a different, more hardcore series if I must say so. With a grizzled, war-veteran hero, a traumatized young girl turned ass-kicker, Earth Hive is exactly what I was looking for when I picked up an Aliens novel. It has the violence, the machismo, the intensity of swarming aliens and the humility of arrogant humans abounds!

With this book, I finally got to see not only deeper into the Aliens background with a visit to their supposed homeworld, but Perry also introduced several other alien life forms-- just as deadly as the Aliens themselves perhaps. I sooo wanted to see a Predator but...well there are other hunters, I suppose.

No this book is not literature, but it's yummy, delicious, sweet pulp and if you like a swift read with a lot of action and horror and sci-fi artillary you'll like this one! It would make a damn good film...Aliens 5...I can almost see it, except the happy ending thing might be a problem...


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Aliens: Cauldron b. Diane Carey

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
The more I think that there is some sort of seperation between extreme horror and young adult literature, the more I am proven wrong. I mean I probably wouldn't have gone for the book had I known that a gaggle of children--yes kids--were going up against a pack of killer aliens, I might have thought twice about reading this book. It's not that I don't think the brightest child prodigies to ever live wouldn't be able to stave off horrifying death and mayhem. I'm sure that maybe one might live...maybe...

What started off as a promising space opera about the illegal transportation of the aliens species (disguised as cargo) on a star ship somehow denigrates to the pluckiness of brilliant space cadets in training. It was OK...not great, but it did raise two serious questions...What do the Aliens eat? How do they grow so fast after chest-burster stage? Maybe the next Aliens book I read will have more details and less of the Disney Channel.

Seriously, I would not want my teen reading this and I don't even have one.

Series or Trilogy...All that I don't know...

There are smart writers who know the ins and outs of grammar, mechanics, word usage, tense and perspective, style and various other literary terms. Then there are story tellers. Unfortunately, I belong to the category of story tellers. Yes, I was an English major and did exceedingly well but only in the analyzing and debating of great works and the rambling, passionate composition of my essays...which always got graded down due to my complete stupidity in the aforementioned categories. Therefore, at no time ever will you read me complaining about how poorly a novel was written, edited or anything about the perspective and/or . (although James Joyce...)

Anyway, that drunken broad aka my muse, came to me this morning with an idea for the sequel of "A Guardian's Desire." (Which I am extremely grateful for, Ms. Caffiena!) After about two months of worrying and trying to recall the difference between a series and a trilogy--I had to look up the definitions of both--I have decided that "A Guardian's Passion" will maybe/definitely be...the second in a series. I want more of Freya and so do a lot of the readers, or so they have said, but then I also want to tell more than just her story...okay, i don't, I just want to write more battle scenes & sex scenes involving Freya and her boys but I think it will add a powerful edge to broaden the universe... That and I am no Tolkien or Lewis....

We shall see. I am wondering if there is a term for something in between a series and a trilogy? Yup, its back to the Literary Dictionary for me...Uggh

If Paranormal Were A Spice, It Would Be Sugar

After many years of assuming that I was not born in the correct age, I realize that now is indeed the best time for me. The amount of paranormal-tinted materials, I can put my fingers upon these days is amazing. I can get my paranormal erotica, of course, filled with weres, vamps, ghosts, and demons with little effort. There is even a decent amount of paranormal in the young adult realms, such as the book I just finished "The Hunger Games," and the whole "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" series. The horror genre can almost always be counted on to provide paranormal thrills (see my review on "Ravenous") and I also like the trend of mixing them up with sci fi. A novel by Jordan Summers called "Red," is firmly on my 'To Read' list.

Sure contemporary literature, be it drama, horror, comedy, romance, etc can be pleasing, but its that extra dash of paranormal elements that make it extra delicious! My friends sometimes ask me when I'm going to write something serious and to them it could be as serious as a Drama about a pastor having an affair or a gangster chic rising up from the hood-- what they really mean though is when will I abandon my love affair with paranormal. Oh, I'd say about the same time I decide that I hate cupcakes...which would be NEVER. Ever since I began reading, I can remember being fascinated by the others; the beasts in "Where the Wild Things Are," and the mythical beasts and weres in my first book on greek mythology (Edith Wharton's, I think) and have no intention of ever abandoning it.

It's just that now, there's a lot more to consume and a lot more for me to be inspired by!

Ravenous b. Ray Garton

Ravenous by Ray Garton

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well about half way through this truly terrifying and brutal portrayal of werewolves, I realized that while I discovered a writer who isn't afraid of gore and horror, my dreams of a fulfilling novel were not going to be realized. I give it kudos though for not romanticizing werewolves in the least and for making them into beings that would scary any vampire shitless. The sex in the book (the way that the lycanthropy virus is transmitted) was not meant for arousal and is far away from paranormal erotica as Winnie the Pooh is from Hellraiser...I even liked the almost mandatory, lone hunter in the book...what I didn't like though was the stupidity. I'm talking, straight from 'Friday the 13th' don't make out in the woods kinda stupidity-- Did I mention that I don't want to hang out with anyone that can't identify on sight a zombie, werewolf, vampire, Cthullu etc!



Now I'm not faulting the book on a whole or the writer, I'm just a greedy reader and a backstory whore. The book has a label on it about how most of the legends about werewolves were wrong...and without giving anything away, such is the case even to werewolf hunter!



Alas this was a good, gripping read and I blew right through it. Perhaps in hindsight the true horror is that after finishing the novel, I was sure that if such an outbreak of werewolves ever occurred then the human race would be extinct in less than a month.



If I'm lucky, Garton will write another book giving some origin info and some hard core solutions for dealing with growing packs.


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The Hunger Games b. Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am not entirely sure whether this book is intended for young adults or not, but I will say that this book deals with some very adult issues. In the future, North America is split into 12 districts, the 13th having been obliterated. All is ruled by the Capitol, and well to say that they are a nasty, ruling body would be too mild. They host the Hunger Games, an arena-style, fight-to-the-death sort of competition which incorporates 2 children, a boy and a girl from every district. The children range from 12-18.



Katniss Everdeen is the heroine of the book and while she seems more mature than any teen I know, she almost has to be. As the main provider for her family and a natural leader, I think that it's not if she can win in the Hunger Games that's important, but rather could she ever be anything but a victim of the Capitol's cruelty and her own.



A damn fine book and an excellent start to a series. I look forward to the next in the series!


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