Mystique Books

Bad-Ass Faeries is a themed anthology edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Lee Hillman, and Jeff Lyman. Packed full of mischief, magic and mayhem this anthology delivers a delight romp through the land of Fae. The premise that Fairies and magic exist in our daily lives without our knowledge is played to hilt with brilliant results. While most anthology of this nature end up being a mixed bag, I was surprised by the exceptional writing and creative storylines.

Warring faerie tribes, futuristic assassins, faerie westerns and a good dose of mystery and Noir fill the pages of this fun read. while some stories are light and show the fun, mischief we have often come to expect in Fae stories others take a darker turn.

"House Arrest" by Keith R.A. DeCandido,"A Pressing Problem" by Donald W. Shank, and "Down These Mean Streets A Faerie Must Go" by John Sunseri are some of my personal favorites. Private Eyes, Detectives and the Faerie Mafia make for unique and original stories.

"At The Crossroads" by Danielle Ackley-McPhail is one of the true gems in Bad-Ass Faeries and my favorite tale. A fine, exciting tale with compelling characters. At its heart, it is a compelling story about Lance a half human, half Fae man and the women he loves. Suzanne is a full blooded Fae as is her brother Gavin. All three are part of a motorcycle gang lead by Lance. But faerie society dislikes faeries who associate with humans and loathe half breeds. When Suzanne and Lance are exposed the Black Fae and his minions are sent to kill them.

Tugging at the readers heart and hitting all the right notes, "At The Crossroads" is just one example of the treasure trove waiting for readers in "Bad Ass Faeries."

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class One Sensuality

Sarah Gentili, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com
 

It is often hard to decide what quasi-historical figure has scholars, literati, or simple fans more curious about their childhood:  Jesus or Arthur.  Equally, not much in the way of scholastic canon is available for either of them, but the two make vibrant and exciting character studies.  Sometimes I even wonder who has the greater fanbase.  Jesus of Nazareth or Arthur of Camelot?  Perhaps "fan base" isn't the correct word for followers of these icons, for many consider their lives to be models for their own and follow with religious ferver. 

But these are issues for another blog to address.  This entry is to reflect on Cynthia Breeding's entry into the childhood of Arthur of Camelot.  In truth, a fascinating entry, with the author spinning the threads of the very complex web of Arthurania with a deft hand at the wheel.  If literary license had been taken, then one can forgive the author  for doing so as the story became clear and easy to read with these (possible) adjustments.  [Just how many permutations of Morgan(a) Le Fey can there be?  But I digress.]

Cynthia Breeding's PRELUDE TO CAMELOT is a lovely and fascinating read, a book worth of being shelved with my Arthurania fiction and non-fiction.  Additionally, I believe that it will be needful reading for the author's upcoming Berkey title, CAMELOT'S DESTINY.  Whether or not the two books are linked, beyond the obvious, I do not know, not having read the Berkley book, but I believe that PRELUDE TO CAMELOT is a worthy read.  Recommended.

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class One sensuality.  (Limited)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Tori Morgan longs for a family.  Nick Santangelo has too much family for his peace of mind.  He's also guy who has his feet firmly on the ground.  None of this fluffy, magic mumbo-jumbo, thank you very much.  But Tori had a few spells up her sleeve and Nick was about to find out that where their's faith and love, there is magic.

A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC is, by far, Joy Nash's finest work to date.  I've enjoyed watching her career grow from epress to New York publishing house, and have enjoyed her celtic and immortals books, but in truth her transition to contemporary romance is long overdue.  She's just that good. 

For a light summer read that's charmingly packed with lovely secondary characters, sizzing sensuality, and a glorious  lesson in family, pick A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC.  Highly, highly recommended. 

Five Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class Three sensuality.  (Standard romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Cursed by a vile witch, Brand Einarsson's nine vikings lived an immortal live as half-man and half-beast, transitioning into their animal halves with the setting (or rising) sun.  Steinnar was one of the nine, cursed to prowl the night as a lion, the beast within him overwhelming the man inside so that he never remembered his doings as the cat.  He did, however, remember the scars on his friends' bodies from the lion's claws when they'd been too close during the night.

Marian didn't realize the danger she courted when the followed--rather, harrassed--Steinnar into assiting her and her brother Robin.  The youth had been put on a near fool's quest by his father and if a busted leg didn't keep him from his appointment with the king then the assassin sent to make him "vanish" was expected to.  Except, in a glorious twist of fate, that assassin was Steinnar.  Could things get any more crazy?  No worries, because author Lisa Hendrix has penned a fabulous tale of heroics, curses, and passion.

This is not your mother's Robin Hood.  It's not Disney's tale either.  Steinnar curses like a sailor and sniffs behind Marian's skirts like a randy, male lion.  Luckily, Marian is more than a match for the beast, meeting his lust and his passion with her own, and battling his grief and curse with the courage of a lioness.

Excellent work!  I can't wait to read the next book in the tale. 

Five Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class Three sensuality.  (Standard romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Outstanding.  This was the fantastic conclusion to Virginia Katra's Children of the Sea books and it left me breathless.

Hardened by his self-imposed exile, Lord Conn ap Llyr has become as chill and relentless as the cold North Sea.  Duty kept him shorebound, a harsh exile for any child of the sea, and the dry air of land had seemingly leached all emotion from this selkie.  Yet something had pulled him from his stone fortress, a need for magick--a need for a prophecy fulfilled. Demons were attacking and Conn didn't have the strength or the allies needed to keep the Fire Children at bay.

Lucy Hunter had a secret.  She had powerful magick.  Unfortunately she wasn't often allowed to use it--or her mind, for that matter--since her overprotective brothers basically looked through her instead of at her.  Not to mention her troubles caring for an alcoholic father who spent more days and nights at the pub than bonding with the one child who stood by him. 

Born of silkie blood and magick, and yet bound to the earth as no child of sea had been before, Lucy was unique...and tortured.  The sea frightened her.  Unlike her brother Dylan, who'd turned with no fuss, Lucy's transition into her selkie skin had been too terrifrying for the child to endure--and no one had been there to help her understand her body's changes.  (I remember my puberty.  It also sucked wads.)  As such, Lucy is shorebound in a way that her selkie brethren could never comprehend.  Nor could they accept it.

Conn needed Lucy elsewhere than her island, he needed her at his home, Caer Subai.  Refusal wasn't an option.  Kidnapping, however, was.

An awesom book!  Edge of the seat tension, great bad guys, subtle plot twists, and lovely, lovely scenes of intimacy.  SEA LORD is a fabulous end to a fantastic series.  I was sorry to let the book close.  Perhaps Virginia Kantra will return us to her world in later books.  I'd buy them.

Five Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class Three sensuality.  (Standard romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Aaron Crews goes to a party thrown by Todd Jacobs in order to see Todd's Victorian erotica collection.  While there, Aaron meets Eden Scott, a woman with whom he has been having an e-mail correspondence.  Aaron and Eden are very attracted to each other, but Eden has an ulterior motive for seeking Aaron out.

STOLEN:  BETWEEN THE COVERS is a short, erotic romance with a light BDSM theme.  The characters of Aaron and Eden are interesting, and their relationship believable if somewhat hurried.  All in all, I enjoyed STOLEN:  BETWEEN THE COVERS and recommend it for a light, erotic, and short read.

Three and a half Mystique Moons.  (Enjoyable)
Class Four sensuality.  (Romantic erotica)

Marlene Breakfield, Review Coordinator 
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Katherine Krieg has been lonely, since her husband's death.  Since she lives in a very remote  location and few of the townsfolk visit her.  The one exception to this is Jason Shepherd, her husband's best friend.  Since her husband's death, Jason has been coming to Katherine's place and helping with chores, but one day their relationship takes an interesting turn.

WHAT I WANT makes for a nice read, but lacks a feeling of completeness.  While this story is entertaining, it felt more like a hot sex scene from a longer book than a complete book.  For this reason, I had trouble connecting with the characters and wish that the story had been longer.

Three Mystique Moons.  (Enjoyable)
Class Four sensuality.  (Romantic erotica)

Marlene Breakfield, Review Coordinator 
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Amanda is left in a very bad position, when her protector dies leaving her penniless.  In order to support her child and herself, Amanda is forced to seek out the help of a pimp.  Luckily, her first client turns out to be a kind, very handsome man named Gabriel.

Even though GABRIEL'S MISTRESS is a very short story, the connection between Amanda and Gabriel is apparent.  While the sex scenes are hot, there are emotional ties established, which make an enjoyable, romantic romance.  This romance between two tortured characters is recommended for someone looking for a quick read.

Four Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four sensuality.  (Romantic erotica)

Marlene Breakfield, Review Coordinator 
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Interesting.  I've read the book through twice but still can't locate what was broken.  Perhaps it was the penis beneath the Domme's boot?

Really, though, it was the pride of our character that was broken.  A child of privilege, Jessica was used to the pampered life--and author Frederick ensured that we knew that by dropping more names in a chapter than a dumb-i-nant does at an Event.  (If you get the joke, than kudos to you!)  However, the untimely death of her father puts Jessica onto the skids.  There is no inheritance.  Suddenly she was--horrors--a regular student.  You know the kind, the ones that work as well as hit the books?  Unfortunately, there was only one Prof who had the option of taking on a graduate student that late in the semester.

Oh, yeah, every female grad student's nightmare.  "I'll help you, dah-ling, if you get undressed," whispers the spider to the fly.  Rather, orders the Master to a potential slave girl.  Would Jessica do it?  She did, and begins her year(s) long journey as a pleasure slave for Professor Limp Dick.  Time and unforseen circumstances happen and Jessica finds herself on the other end of the whip and realizes that she likes being Top.  And thus, we are introduced to the new Jessica.  Or...do we call her Mistress Jessica?

Two nits that caught my attention.  First, there was an amazing amount of misandry.  (Like that word?  I just found it. Means "man-hating".)  Jessica made her choices and I fail to understand why she'd develop such a hatred of the male.  Dommes that I know--and maybe it's just me--don't hate the male. They simply enjoy subjugating them.  But, it's not my book and it's not for me to tell the author how to develop her story. 

My second nit to pick is the lack of background. There is a lack of any texture in the story.  People don't speak, act, or exist in a vaccuum.  We hear, smell, and touch things all the time, merely putting that data into the back of our minds.  Author Frederick's style of writing excises any landscape, bringing only the point to the reader's attention.  It was like watching leading actors play their roles against a Blue Screen.  I missed the landscape and that is the reason for the four moon score.  It is this reviewer's opinion that all five senses need to be incorporated into a scene in order to paint a truly vivid picture of events.

All things considered, BROKEN was for me a fascinating introduction to a new genera of literature.  I've not yet decided if the genus is to my taste, or if not, but the introduction was fascinating.  Fabulous work, I. G. Frederick!

Four Mystique Moons.  (Fabulous)
Class Five sensuality.  (Raging Carnality)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

This book disturbed me on multiple levels.  Is that a bad thing?  Not at all.  After all, wasn't it Georges Braque who said, "Art is made to disturb?"  That is the reason for the five-moon rating.

I could not read the book.  A survivor of childhood abuse, I daily fight a similiar demon as the characters in SHATTERED.  Author I. G. Frederick delves far too deeply into the psyche of an incest survivor for my comfort.  Reading it, I was left choking on my own rage, my own memories, and my own issues with the lack of comfort in my own skin.  I know that I too have been, and remain, shattered by my past. Would it be possible for me to find respite in the lash?  To take the damage, the abuse, and create a healing beneath the whip? 

I do not know.  Perhaps I may never have the courage to find out.  What I do know is that I did not have the courage to read SHATTERED to its conclusion, and that is the ultimate compliment to book's author.

If art is meant to disturb, to reach out and touch an individual on a visceral level, then I.G. Frederick did so for this reader.  Not an easy accomplishment, for I have layers of scars over those woulds.  Read SHATTERED if you've a lion's heart.  Live it it you dare.

Five Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class Five sensuality.  (Raging carnality)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

AWESOME!  A fabulous new look at Vampirism.

Olivia does the night shift, working as a counselor for the dinurally challenged.  (Yea, but I did create a word.)  It can be said that she burns the midnight oil in her quest to somehow cure--manage?--the bloodlust that rules a vampire's life.  Literally.  She counsels vampires who want to better interface with human society.  Is such a thing possible?  Olivia believes that it is and works dilligently to direct and modify bloodsucking behavior, especially when it's her own behavior in question.  Her own behavior?  That's right.  She's been turned. Marcus, vampire and owner of a Vamp/Human club, had done the deed and at her behest...and felt that Olivia had a lot of nerve crying foul now that the deed was done. 

Ok, that part wasn't very new but the part about talk therapy was new and pretty amusing if you ask me.  Talk about balls of steel!  Olivia must have a set the size of churchbells!  To beard the dragons in their element, shaking an allegorical finger in the face of the hunger.

The social and emotional dynamics inherent in such a wonderful setting were handled with class and a deft pen.  What on earth could have given Olivia not only the courage but the determination to make a difference in the lives of confused and unhappy vampires?  Out of respect to the author I won't reveal her plot device, but it was truthful and realistic handled with sensitivity.

My impression of the story was that the romance between Olivia and Marcus took a back seat against the overriding the of living one's life with courage.  Kudos to author Sophie Athens.  

I did have a nit, however, but it's a personal one and not one that I held against the author.  The card on the table, the one attached to the title and had been set before the reader--something the author wanted us to pay attention to?--simply vanished from the story.  I would have liked to have seen the author twine that into the story somehow.  But, as I said, that was my personal preference and it's not for me to tell someone how to write their book.  Overall, based on the Brave New World created by Sophie Athens for her vampires, this book was an excellent read. 

Nothing trite, banal, or hackneyed about it.  Rock on, Sophie Athens! 

Four and one half Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four sensuality.  (Standard Romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

No, No, NO!  Epic, epic No!! 

Joss is one pathetic vampire.  He hates his undead life, he hates that he has to drink blood to survive, he blames himself for the mob that murdered one of his bed-partners, yadda yadda yadda.  In totality, he's a whiny, morose vampire who prefers to lurk in the shadows and curse himself for the cowardly fiend he believes himself to be.

Elizabeth is a late night radio jock who is too stubborn for her own good.  She's attacked--what?--two or three times in the story.  (Lame plot devices.)  Even when the obvious is upon her, Elizabeth continues to lark about dark nights, walking through urban sprawl as though there's not a criminal mind within miles...even though she's getting letters upon letters from pervs and slimes of all types.  To the address where she works.  (Anyone hear of a P.O. Box?!  Anyone hear of armed security for employees?!)

Beyond the gratingly obvious plot devices used to bring Mr. Unhappy Vamp to our Brave Heroine  (read: moron), the alleged romance between the two is beyond trite.  [Just how does an undead revenant spurt jizz, I ask!  No, no, no!]  Then there's the Dark Moment that comes with all the finesse of a sledge hammer to the head of the reader.  What's this?  Our Brave Heroine is once again attacked on dark streets?  This time her life's blood is running out and the only way to save her is to "turn" her! Who would have thought of such an unusual thing? 

I've seen more originality among a flock of sheep.  Please, author Morgan, be advised that Mr. Morose saving the life of Brave (TSTL) Heroine who then vows to live HEA with him is beyond outdated.  I believe this theme was beat to death in Harlequin Romances of the 70s--sans the teeth, of course.  And with the multitudes of vampires in print, those of varying issues, challenges, and ect,., the option of doing something fabulously amazingly different was there.  Yet...this? 

Still, and as I say often, it's not my place to tell the author how to write her story.  It is my review, however, and thus I can pick my nits.  With all due respect ot author Lia Morgan, INNOCENCE was not to my taste.  Nor could I fathom the reason of the title.  Who in this story was innocent?  But I digress. 

May better reviews than this come to the author for future works.

Two Mystique Moons.  (Not my speed)
Class Three sensuality.  (Standard Romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Celeste makes a life-changing decision and invites a man home for a one-night stand.  No, not that creep, but the hero who burst through her door to save her. Mr. One Night Stand was a total sleaze bag!  Thank God Above that we have heroes like Detective Paul Jenson and kudos to author Keaton for letting us watch one of the Good Guys fall in love.

HOT!  HOT! HOT!  And surprisingly sweet.  Nothing like a man in tube sox and leopard-print skivvies!  Better, he's a hero to boot!  If you have cop fantasies, this book is for you.  If you don't have cop fantasies and like a sweet and sensual love story, this books is for you.  Any nits to pick?  But of course, darlings, but it's a tiny one.  The story was, by far, too formula.

Older woman, obsessed with her not-so-hard body, breasts that are no-longer-perky, and her jerk of an ex-husband who left her for a younger woman, it a bit hackneyed these days.  However, it is valid concern, as I remind myself every morning when I look into the mirror.  Brutalized self-esteem issues abound in this society that insists on perfection that we know is false.  (What's up with that anyway??)  But I digress.  So, Celeste is too embarrassed to enjoy the delights of her hot, Hot, HOT upstairs neighbor, our hero Paul.  Thus our hero must fight not only the bad guys but the demons in Celeste's mind.  However, he is up to the task and I was ok with that until she unleased her Dark Moment--one that unfortunately could be seen coming a mile away.

Now, I'm not going to spoil the story and please understand that I did enjoy this story.  Also remember that the formula used by author Keaton is a winning one.  Bu-ut, I was sort of hoping that a new spin might come onto the storyline.  That didn't happen but I'm not going to penalize the author for my expectations.  She did her job, giving us a tight story with believable characters, warm and sensual sexual scenes, and a wonderful vibrancy to her prose.

SWEET SURRENDER is a wonderful and excellent example of its type.  If you enjoy that style of predictability you will very much enjoy this story.  Indeed, I read it twice.  Once to review and twice just cuz I liked it.

Four Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four sensuality.  (Romantic Erotica)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Job well done by author Jackie Barbosa.  THE GOSPEL OF LOVE: ACCORDING TO LUKE is an excellent read.  And I love the three brothers!  Upcoming books about them, I hope.

Financial Wizard Luke Finley has just been tossed out of his own condo.  (what?)  Yep, that's what the book said.  His ex girlfriend/significant other/arm candy had tossed him out of his own condo.)  And the weird thing is: he didn't care.  Just another failed relationship as far as Luke was concerned.  Unfortunate but what could he do?  He wasn't the marrying kind.  But then Lise, part of the family/girl friend/one-of-the-boys, gets into his face and challenges him.  "You are the marrying kind, but you deliberately choose women that you don't like."  Like any red-blooded man, Luke's hackles bristled.  Did she have someone in mind?  In fact, Lise did.  Herself.

This book was a page-turner, one I couldn't put down--and I was at work!  Imagine me shoving my nose into the prose and hoping my boss didn't come around the corner and catch me.  Ahhh, but it was worth it.  Luke and Lise are hot, Hot, HOT!  Sex so sweetly sensual and emotionally meaningful that I almost felt like a voyeur. 

Their challenges were meaningful and I believed Luke's reasons for balking over marrage.  Childhood looms over many of us and as the song sez, "Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are."  That includes Mom and Dad.  In the end it was happily ever after, of course, and I was tickled by the story.  Two great characters and two believable conflicts.  Awesome.

Well done, Ms. Barbosa.

Four Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four sensuality.  (Romantic Erotica)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books  
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

This book is what is known as a masterbatory text.  It exists as either a) the author's own fetish or b) a pandering to fetishes similiar to the author's.  Does that mean that I'm going to trash this book?  Not at all.  CAJUN'S CAPTIVE is/was a best seller.  It is a fine example of its type.  It is, however, not to my taste.  Why not?  My darlings, I'm so glad that you asked.

The plot was invisible; the characters one dimensional; the sexual intimacy yawn-inducing--indeed, the amount closing in on tedius--but all those things I could have ignored, albiet unhappily.  But, My God, where was the editor?  My eyes nearly bled reading the Romper Room errors of "telling now showing" the dizzying stumbles in and out of deep point-of-view and sentences with all the vivid, passionate life of foam insulation.  (Again: where was the editor?)

No, I'm not trashing the book.  The story was a sweet love story--if awkward in delivery and overstuffed with boring sex--and the setting was interesting, what little bit was given to the reader.  The author needed an editor to help her deliver her story with all the passion a Cajun Werewolf is bound to possess and yet she didn't get that.  And that is what annoys me to no end.  This story could have been So Much Better.  Instead, we are left with a mid-range, page-skipping, examination of what gets the author off.  (i.e.: the masterbatory comment.) By far the most interesting part of this book is the "what happened to your Mom?" question.

But let's face it: there's a market for this type of short story.  CAJUN'S CAPTIVE sold well and for that, the author can freely extend the middle finger of contempt in my direction.  I respect that, both her right to tell me to go to hell and for happily taking the check to the bank.  However, as this is my review I do get to have my nits.  My preference is for stories to have believable characters, not cookie-cutter ones; a reasonable plot, that criterion excludes the Great Misunderstanding; and a build up of intimacy that is delivered instead of told. 

As I reread this review--managing to miss the misspellings and grammar gaffes--I realize this turned into a rant despite my best intentions.  For that, I apologize to the author.  I wish her well.  CAJUN'S CAPTIVE, however, was not to my taste.  Press on, Selena Blake!  Don't let this review take the joy out of your writing!  And slap your editor, will you?  He/she was asleep at the wheel for this one.

Three Mystique Moons.  (Standard)
Class Three Sensuality (Standard Romance)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

OMIGAWD!!  I want that mule!  We so need a few more Socrateses in the world. 

This was the most hilarious book I have ever read.  It is well-written and the humor is perfectly poised within the prose.  Nor does it sacrifice the humor for the romance, or the other way around.  I loved it and totally loved Socrates, the match-making mule.

DOWN HOME EVER LOVIN' MULE BLUES tells the story of the troubles Socrates, a match-making mule and his two associates-in-mischief, a dog and a skunk, have matching together two destined souls.  Only these two folks, Broday and Rita, are too stubborn to realize that they're perfect for each other.  No worries.  Socrates has a plan, but it's not easy to work through the emotional chaos when even the players are not what they seem.  Rita is using her connections with her work to fund an orphanage but has been having some difficulties, and Brody runs the company in question.  Two diverse agendas coming face to face!  Not to mention there's that other guy in Rita's life--one who is not adverse to using Rita AS a rung on the corporate ladder--and the fact that Brody "simplified" his life and "went cowboy", leading everyone to believe that he was nothing more than a line-shack jockey instead of a city boy.  Good grief!  This is as crazy as having a skunk at a garden party!  (Or is that a skunk loose in a hospital?)

Hate, lies, love, deceit, trickery, manipulations, love, amazing animal stunts, hilarity, love...this story has it all.  A definate MUST READ for eveyone.  I couldn't stop laughing while reading it, and yes I was at work.  And I keep opening it again and again.  It doesn't get any better than this.

Five Mystique Moons.  (Outstanding)
Class Three sensuality.  (Standard Romance)

Rachel Nail, Reviewer
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

Sometimes you can tell when an editor loves their work, when they are fans of the genre and know exactly what makes a wonderful read. Mike McPhail is such an editor.

Breach the Hull is a wonderful anthology filled with rip roaring military sci-fi romps that showcase the best of the genre. Some of the best sci-fi is much more then epic battles and alien bugs.

Some of the highlights included these stories; "Peter Power Armour", "Forgotten Causes", "Cryptic", "Black to Move", "Thresher", and "Compartment Alpha". These are all excellent reads and do a wonderful job of flushing out the anthology.

"Shore Leave" by CJ Hendersen is my personal favorite. A fun romp through a futuristic hot spot for military shore leave. Ironically its not the sci fi that makes the story, it's the two jarheads we fallow from one misadventure to another.

Over all Breach the Hull is an excellent anthology that highlights everything genre fans have come to love.

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class One Sensuality

Sarah Gentili, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

I was pleasantly surprised by this first novel of Danielle Ackley-McPhail's. She delivers a haunting blend of Celtic Myth and Urban Fantasy wrapped in a tightly wound story that pulls the reader in. While not the typical romance, Yesterdays Dreams is a wonderfully crafted story.

Surpriseing the relationship that I found most fasinating was between the two heroines, Kara and Maggie. Kara is a 23 year old violenist who is forced to sell her violen at the beginning of the story. Maggie McCormick is a 200 year old Sighe running a pawnshop. Maggie's sidhe clan act as gaudrians for Kara's family. The two quickly form a friendship that is perfectly crafted.

I was also moved by some of the horror and dark magic elements littered through out the story are brillent. These scenes where vid enough o make my skin crawl and set aside the book to turn on the lights.

Chilling baddies. Strong heroines. Elegently crafted storytelling. All these combine to make this a memorable read that I highly recommand.

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Two Sensuality. 

Sarah Gentili, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

 
Charlotte Boyett-Compo returns to her Reaper Universe with another exceptional tale pf passion, sorrow and redemption. Lucien’s Khamsin is a sizzling erotic romance with a wonderful blend of solid world building and fantastic characterization.

Lucien Korvina is a great alpha who will capture your heart. Left for dead after his village was ravaged by the monstrous Sagitarry and their beastmasters the Manicore in 13^th century Hungary he is rescued by the mysterious  Sibylline, an alien Revenant Queen. She turns him. Giving him external life and stealing his freedom all in one fateful moment.

Khamsin lives in a cruise ship turned orphanage in war torn 2052. An excellent foil to Lucien, she wants happiness and peace. A fighter and a survivor, Khamsin fights when she is captured by Lucien.

There are other things I loved about this book. Boyett-Compo’s apocalyptic world is vivid and frightfully real. The two lovers don’t fall into each others arms but the relationship grows in depth and intensity over time. And finally, Sibylline makes a chilling villainous.  

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four Sensuality.  (Romantic Erotica)

Sarah Gentili, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com

A SURPRISEINGLY FUN READ! 

We've got a virago and an ogre in the characters of Davan Shanahan and Cair Ghrian, AKA Doctor Shanahan and Captain Ghrian.  These two strong-willed people were happily stationed away from each other until order came to transfer Davan to Cair's ship.  The Pleasure's Foehn.  A whorehouse.  Rather, a spacegoing brothel.  Davan is less than pleased by the assignment.  She'd wanted to take her surgical skills to the Front, where the battle for galactic dominance raged.  A  brothel???  Ok, it was true that battle fatigued soldiers deserved some R&R, but did Davan need to be in charge of curing STDs and bandaging love bites?

Apparently so, and not the the joy of Cair Ghrian either.  His mistress had given him an earful of spite upon Davan's arrival that his hangover-head hadn't appreciated.  Not to mention that the doctor had also had the--can we say balls?--to read him the riot act as well.  Then came the inter-stellar communication from his interfering mother.  Could a man be blamed for tossing his brandy-soaked dinner into the porcelain throne?  Something beyond his vomit was stinking up the air and Cair had a good guess as to what it was.  His infernal mother was matchmaking again.

As I said above, this was a surprisingly good read.  I enjoyed it immensely, except for--you didn't expect me not to pick a nit, did you?  Except for the last part.  The story seemed to unravel and lose all coherency with the introduction of the Reaper in the Dungeon.  Now, I'm not the author and I'm a die-hard fan of Charlotte, but...not every book needs a reaper in the story.  (Did I just say that???)  Cavan and Cair did just fine carrying their story on their own.  But, I'm not the author and I don't make the decisions.

Rock on, Charlee!  Love ya', Babe.

Four and One Half Mystique Moons.  (Excellent)
Class Four Sensuality.  (Romantic Erotica)

Brenda Thatcher, Co-Owner Mystique Books
mystiquebooks@gmail.com