Into the Red by Kelly Whitely

Blurb:

Human blood is an illicit and highly addictive drug--if you're a vampire. Known as Red, its side effects are insanity, and eventual death. A group of Red-addicted vampires known as Poisoners are killing women risking exposure of their race, and one victim survives…

Dr. Evan Nichols, oncologist and vampire, lives a monk-like existence focusing on patient care and research to benefit his vampire brethren. Now his government has ordered him to take a mate—or they’ll choose one for him. It’s a horrible prospect, and one that might push him over the edge—until Fate throws him together with a human female.

Wary of relationships, Tara West has poured her energies into work and inventing cutting edge climbing equipment. She doesn’t like the gorgeous Dr. Nichols, yet finds herself unaccountably drawn to him.  When she survives the Poisoners’ attack, Evan rescues her. With time running out, he has to find her attacker in order to create an antidote to the poison before he loses his chance at love.

Thus the journey begins—into the Red! 

Review:

I normally don’t write reviews before I finish reading the books, but I’m over eighty percent into this one according to my Kindle and I’m pretty sure I can predict the outcome from here.  That doesn’t mean Into the Red is predictable.  As I’ve said before—I often guess things other people might not because that’s how I would have written it, and I’m really good at catching foreshadowing.  That said—

I hope my boss at Jupiter Gardens Press doesn’t read this, because I may get into hot water.  I have three books from the "slush pile" waiting to be read and recommended or not for publication, and I promise I will dive into them as soon as I finish writing this, even though Into the Red is screaming at me to finish it.  My excuse is that I haven't been home, and my Kindle is much easier to take to the VA and the laundry room than my laptop.  But there’s also the fact that Into the Red grabbed me and sucked me in and I haven’t been able to put it down.

Evan and Tara are two lonely people who have closed themselves off to love because of devastating losses in their pasts.  It’s difficult for them to trust that they’ll find love that doesn’t end in pain and loss.  Yet, they’re drawn to each other.  It’s Tara’s distrust and low self-esteem that leads her to the flee the restaurant where she runs into Evan when she thinks he’s left her after a one-night-stand, not having seen the note he left her.  She leaves via the alley, where the Poisoners attack her.  Fortunately, Evan realizes she’s left and follows her scent through the kitchen in time to rescue her, saving her life—temporarily.  If he can’t find her attackers alive and harvest their venom for the antidote in time, Tara will die anyway.  And Evan can’t contemplate losing another love.  But he doesn’t know they’re not the only threat.  I haven’t read how he’ll deal with that yet, but I know it’ll be good.  I don’t believe Ms. Whitely will let me down in the last twenty percent when the first eighty has been so gripping.  Follow the buy-link below and find out for yourself.

Length:  347 Pages

Price:  $5.95

Buy Link:  http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=513&category_id=32&manufacturer_id=248&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

You’ll notice I always include the publisher’s buy link.  That’s because authors usually receive 40% of the book price from the publisher.  Editors and cover artists usually receive about 5%.  When you buy a book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or another third-party vendor, they take a hefty cut and the author, editors and cover artists receive their cuts from what is left.  So, if a book costs $5.99 at E-Book Publisher.com and you buy from there, the author will receive about $2.40.  If you buy the book at Amazon, the author will receive about $0.83.

Downloading the file from your computer to your Kindle is as easy as transferring any file from your computer to a USB flash drive.  Plug the USB end of your chord into a USB port on your computer and simply move the file from your “Downloads” box to your Kindle/Documents/Books directory.  I actually download my books using “Save As” to a “Books” file I created on my computer that’s sorted by my publisher, friends, and books “to review,” and then transfer them to my Kindle from there.  That way, if there’s a glitch with my Kindle, the books are on my computer.  Your author will be happy you did when he/she sees his/her royalty statement.

Thanks for visiting.  RIW

Forbid My Heart by Kayelle Allen

  

Blurb:

Waking in the middle of the night, Izzorah begins to worry. His lover has pledged to take him back to visit his homeworld, but Izzorah knows the fact that they're gay could cause their death if the Kin Pride Council hears about it. Izzorah's heart tells him to trust Luc, but his fear is real. He snuggles up to Luc, seeking comfort.

Luc is immortal. He has the perspective to understand his lover's concerns, and not worry about them. He tries to distract Izzorah with a sexy game of dominance and submission played during their shared shower. Izzorah's unreserved trust and respect make Luc long to wipe out any shadow of trouble or sorrow. He would turn the Kin homeworld upside down to protect him, but convincing Izzorah he can do it will mean confessing a truth Luc is not yet ready to share.

Review:


Kayelle Allen is a good friend and I'm so sorry I wasn't able to give her story the rave review I would have liked to have written, but I have to be honest.

 

I enjoyed this short little waiting-room read, but was disappointed at the ending. From the title I knew it was part of a series, but I expected it to be able to stand on its own. There was enough history exposed that it should have done so, but the book ended with a promise unfulfilled.
 
This story was one of the publisher’s “Spring Fling” specials, Fling length being short-short stories, but I would have preferred a longer format in which Luc and Izzorah actually returned to Rah’s homeworld and Luc managed to eliminate the threat against them. I suppose I’ll have to wait for the next Fling story to read that installment.

Length:  Very Short, No Page Count Available

Price:  $1.99

Buy Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/authors/g-k/kayelle-allen/forbid-my-heart-a-luc-and-rah-story.html#product_tabs_description

You’ll notice I always include the publisher’s buy link.  That’s because authors usually receive 40% of the book price from the publisher.  Editors and cover artists usually receive about 5%.  When you buy a book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or another third-party vendor, they take a hefty cut and the author, editors and cover artists receive their cuts from what is left.  So, if a book costs $5.99 at E-Book Publisher.com and you buy from there, the author will receive about $2.40.  If you buy the book at Amazon, the author will receive about $0.83.

Downloading the file from your computer to your Kindle is as easy as transferring any file from your computer to a USB flash drive.  Plug the USB end of your chord into a USB port on your computer and simply move the file from your “Downloads” box to your Kindle/Documents/Books directory.  I actually download my books using “Save As” to a “Books” file I created on my computer that’s sorted by my publisher, friends, and books “to review,” and then transfer them to my Kindle from there.  That way, if there’s a glitch with my Kindle, the books are on my computer.  Your author will be happy you did when he/she sees his/her royalty statement.

Thanks for visiting.  RIW

Light My Fire by Elle Druskin

Blurb: 

Widowed single mother Kara Wilson has a lot more in common with Liberty Heights mayor and fire chief Woodrow Wilson than either realize. Both are secretly in love with the other, not daring to hope their dreams can come true. With the help of the “Miracle Dress” and Wayne’s psychic predictions, Kara and Woody just might have a chance for a happily ever after, Liberty Heights style. 

Review: 

Aw me-ann, I read Light My Fire too fast!  Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.  As usual, Liberty Heights acquired one or two new residents and one or two people came home who had been living out of town, but the main romance focused on Kara Wilson, whose husband, Brian was killed in Afghanistan and Brian’s cousin and best friend, Woodrow Wilson who is Liberty Heights' mayor along with being a paramedic and fire-fighter.  Woody was in Afghanistan with Brian, holding him when he died.  Woody promised to take care of Kara and her daughter, Phoebe—not too difficult a promise to make.  If Woody had been just a smidge faster to ask Kara to the prom, she might have been his.  If he really got honest with himself, he’d cared for her since grammar school.  But Brian asked Kara first, so Woody took ditzy Lou Ann Freedbush who didn’t have a date and probably wouldn’t get one.  Woody is a genuinely nice guy.

Kara has feelings for Woody as well, and he’s always there for her, but she’s sure it’s because he promised Brian.  Will he ever see her as Kara, the woman?  It’s been over five years.  She’s stopped grieving.  She’s ready to date again, and she wants to date Woody.  She was happy with Brian, of course.  But if she’s really honest with herself, she’s had a crush on Woody her whole life.  She wished he’d asked her to prom, but Brian asked first.  Then Woody took that ditzy Lou Anne Freedbush.  That was such a nice thing to do.  She was sure no one else would have thought to ask Lou Ann out.  Should she try the Miracle Dress?  Would it make Woody notice her as a woman and not just Brian’s widow?

Liberty Heights is chock full of quirky people, and equally quirky animals.  Who doesn’t love a deaf dog who hangs out at the Chinese restaurant hoping for scraps because he loves Chinese cuisine, or a parrot who speaks French (not necessarily the French one uses in polite conversation)?  How about a chimpanzee who plays on the local Little League team, at least when they’re practicing?  Darned League won’t allow her to play in actual games and she’s a really good pitcher.  Or an ant-eater who prefers shoes?  Actually, now that Liberty Heights has a new French teacher, Antoine the parrot is spouting Victor Hugo and Balzac.  Wait!  Did George Washington sleep in Liberty Heights and was a battle fought there during the Revolution?  “Aux le barricades!”  Sorry, Antoine, wrong revolution.

This is Book Four in the Liberty Heights series.  Each book stands quite well on its own and will keep you laughing whether you’ve gotten to know the denizens of Liberty Heights and their history or not.  But they’re all funny and charming and wonderful to read.  If you want to feel good, pick up a book and take a trip to Liberty Heights, New Jersey.  You’ll almost wish you could move there, too.

Length:  205 Pages 
Price:  $5.50 
Buy Link:  https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=736&category_id=58&manufacturer_id=138&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

You’ll notice I always include the publisher’s buy link.  That’s because authors usually receive 40% of the book price from the publisher.  Editors and cover artists usually receive about 5%.  When you buy a book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or another third-party vendor, they take a hefty cut and the author, editors and cover artists receive their cuts from what is left.  So, if a book costs $5.99 at E-Book Publisher.com and you buy from there, the author will receive about $2.40.  If you buy the book at Amazon, the author will receive about $0.83.

Downloading the file from your computer to your Kindle is as easy as transferring any file from your computer to a USB flash drive.  Plug the USB end of your chord into a USB port on your computer and simply move the file from your “Downloads” box to your Kindle/Documents/Books directory.  I actually download my books using “Save As” to a “Books” file I created on my computer that’s sorted by my publisher, friends, and books “to review,” and then transfer them to my Kindle from there.  That way, if there’s a glitch with my Kindle, the books are on my computer.  Your author will be happy you did when he/she sees his/her royalty statement. 

Thanks for visiting.  RIW

Stone of Heaven by L. A. Sartor

Blurb:

Tori Carswell treasures her solitude and simple life. Her identical twin, Abby Carswell, is the polar opposite, seeking increasingly risky adventures. Now Abby has put herself in mortal danger, captive of an ancient Mayan cult. Her only hope? Woefully under-prepared Tori.

And the Treasure Hunter … Reid Hunter, good-natured and currently broke, aims to beat his ex-partner Abby to the fabled blue jade known as the Stone of Heaven. But when reclusive, aero-phobic Tori overcomes her fear of flying and tracks her sister to a well guarded tomb deep in the Yucatan rainforest, he realizes Abby is in serious trouble.

Can Opposites Accomplish the Impossible? Abby no longer trusts Reid. Can Tori risk doing so now, and join forces with him to save her sister? Or will Reid put riches before life and love?

Review:

I have a real bone to pick with Ms. Sartor.  I have been woefully behind.  I had three—count them, three—editing projects to work on.  And what have I been doing in my non-existent "spare time"?  I've been quitting early to read Stone of Heaven because I couldn't put the darned thing down!  The action begins on page one when a hurricane uncovers the road to the tomb for which Abby Carswell has been searching in Chile, and a village boy delivers a broken off bit of the Stone of Heaven amulet to her.  But before he can lead her back to the place where he found it, they're attacked by a Viejo and his followers.  The Viejo isn't just an ordinary priest who worships the Mayan god Itzumna; he's an immortal who was the Head Priest when Itzumna was alive.  The Stone of Heaven is the last amulet he needs to resurrect his terrible God.  And to make matters worse, he sees Tori in Abby's computer and realizes the women are twins.  The blood of twins will make Itzumna doubly strong when he rises.  The last thing they need is for Tori to overcome her fears, leave her comfy-cozy private train and come to Chile to rescue Tori.  Which is exactly what she does, rushing headlong into danger and into situations that cause her to face every one of her worst fears—flying, water, and her growing feelings for Reid Hunter.

By all means, grab this book.  I guarantee Stone of Heaven will grab you and keep hold of you until the very last word on the very last page.

Length:  298 Pages

Prices: 

Paperback:  $9.45

E-Book:  $3.99

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Heaven-Carswell-Adventure-1/dp/0985679239/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371230800&sr=1-1&keywords=stone+of+heaven+l.a.+sartor

Thanks for visiting.  RIW