Review: Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

Into the Dark

by Gena Showalter

HQN Books, 2010

Paranormal

Release date: April 27, 2010

THE DARKEST FIRE Geryon is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. Kadence is the goddess of Oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords—and discover a passion unlike any other.

THE AMAZON’S CURSE Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free…

THE DARKEST PRISON Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike’s slave. Now, he is her master. And these sworn rivals destined to destroy each other will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love…

This publication is the re-issue of three short stories previously published elsewhere.

THE DARKEST FIRE is essentially a precursor to the popular Showalter series, THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD. Kadence, as the goddess of Oppression, was once responsible for keeping the worst demons of the underworld (known as The Lords of the Underworld) within the walls of Hell. It’s a long and lonely responsibility, that ends up threatening her very existence, until she bargains with Lucifer for Geryon’s soul so that she can team up with the red skinned, furred and horned monster who is appointed the Guardian of the gates of Hell.

THE AMAZON’S CURSE is a short story from Showalter’s ATLANTIS series, and appears to be from somewhere in the middle of the series. This is the story of the vampire Zane and an Amazon named Nola, who once had been held as a sort of gladiator for the amusement of the gods. When the gods finally release them, it is to place Nola to the Amazon encampment where she is bound, invisible and unheard, and has to watch Zane be worked and starved, as he is imprisoned there. Both come from horribly abusive backgrounds that they struggle to overcome and eventually they find each other and find they share a kindred spirit.

THE DARKEST PRISON is another short story from THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD, belonging somewhere in the middle of the series. In this the two personifications of strength from the Titan and Olympus Greek myths. Atlas, as the Titan, has been imprisoned in Tartarus for thousands of years, overseen by his jailer, Nike. He seduces her, trying to affect an escape, but Nike discovers his deceit and, exacts her revenge by carving her name across his chest so he’s forced to remember her. When this story begins, however, the tide has turned and the Titans have escaped and imprisoned the Olympians in turn. Now, Atlas is the jailer and paybacks are hell –he begins by tattooing his name across her back, and the battle of strength and affection begins anew.

Of the three stories, I was surprised to find THE DARKEST PRISON was my favorite. At first I was more than a little appalled that these characters took such hateful, disfiguring revenge upon each other, but as I read their story I began to understand that as the ultimate representation of physical strength, each of these characters value the strength in the other, even when it reveals the weakness in themselves. Perhaps their affection even builds because they are truly physically vulnerable only to the other. They each take pride in the brand the other has given to them, as they work to overcome the loyalties that they owe to their fellow deities versus the affection they feel for each other.

These short stories are a great intro to two fantastic series.

Assessment: Recommended

Notice: To comply FTC Guidelines, please be aware that this book was provided by the publisher as an ARC (advance reader’s copy) via NetGalley.

Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Inside Out

by Maria V. Snyder

Harlequin, April,  2010

Young Adult, Science Fiction

Release date: April 1, 2010

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I’ve got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

I don’t typically read Young Adult (YA) fiction. At least, not since I was a YA–which was longer ago than I care to think about. The last YA books I read were the Harry Potter series, and I started those to see what all of the fuss was about. They were fun, but somewhere in the middle of the series the angst just exhausted me, and I had to slog through the remainder of the series so I could find out how it all wrapped up. I’ve carefully avoided the Twilight series because I fear the angst will just smother me.

So, I began INSIDE OUT with much caution, but quickly found myself sucked into a compelling science fiction, coming of age story.

Trella, at seventeen, is part of a self-contained world of ruthlessly regimented space and time. Citizens of this world are divided into two classes–Uppers and Lowers –and the classes never, ever mix. The Lowers are the worker bees of the world, referred to as ‘scrubs’ because of their role as cleaners.  The Lowers live in cramped conditions, sleeping in shifts in massive barracks and working when they aren’t sleeping or eating. There is no recreation, no diversion in this society. The Lowers aren’t encouraged to think and aren’t even allowed to have a family –children are removed from their parents as newborns, collected and raised together by a Care Mother.

Trella hates her life as a Lower, and does everything that she can to escape the cramped and overcrowded living conditions on the lower levels. As a scrub responsible for cleaning the various water and air pipes, Trella uses the isolation of her job to distance herself from the scrub population –she even sleeps in remote corners of the piping systems. Trella is commonly known as the Queen of the Pipes, because there’s no corner she hasn’t explored, and because she’s also seen as a loaner by all except her one friend that she was raised with, Cogan.

When a new Prophet stirs up a false hope about the existence of the Gateway that offers escape to the Outside, and Cog appears about to become a dup to the tale, Trella decides to prove the Prophet wrong –and ends up setting into motion the opposite. Her forray to the Upper levels sets the Pop Cops (Population Police) after Trella, Cog and the Prophet in order to stop them.

This story is a fascinating exploration of what happens to a society when history is lost, propaganda is used to control large groups of people, the needs of society outweigh the needs of the individual, and a minority gains ultimate control over the majority. It’s a true exploration of awakening –both from the heroine’s point of view, as Trella learns that the scrubs are real, caring people that she’s been hiding from, and from the society’s standpoint, as the Lowers prove they’re not the mindless population they have always been portrayed (sheep is used extensively as a symbol).

And, best of all, Truella grows and evolves throughout this plot-driven story, discovering more about herself and the world around her than she ever suspected. And all of it is handled with bravery and courage. Not an ounce of angst to be found. There is much for a reader to discover about this world and its characters.

INSIDE OUT is a delightful read and I look forward to returning to this world when Ms. Snyder’s next novel, OUTSIDE IN, is release in the future.

Assessment: Highly Recommended

Notice: To comply FTC Guidelines, please be aware that this book was provided by the publisher as an ARC (advance reader’s copy) for review purposes via NetGalley.

Review: Naughty Bits 2 by various Sprice Briefs authors

Naughty Bits 2

by various Spice Briefs authors

HQN Books, 2010

Contemporary

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Naughty Bits 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the successful debut volume from the editors of SPICE BRIEFS, delivers nine unapologetically raunchy and romantic tales that promise to spark the libido.

In this collection of first-rate short erotic literature, lusty selections by such provocative authors as Megan Hart, Lillian Feisty, Saskia Walker and Portia Da Costa will pique, tease and satisfy any appetite, and prove that good things do come in small packages.

A wonderful collection of short erotic stories, Naughty Bits 2 delivers scorchingly hawt reads. Nine stories in all, each is as unique as the author and explores historical settings to contemporary, traditional male/female encounters to steamy menage a trois. The stories included in this anthology are:

• CHANCE OF A LIFETIME by Portia da Costa
• THE PRIESTESS by Gregg Robinson
• TAKEN by Michelle Scheibe
• FAVOR ME by Janesi Ash
• MEDUSA’S FOLLY by Paige Cuccaro
• PRIMAL INSTINCTS by Cathryn Fox and Lisa Renee Jones
• THIS IS WHAT I WANT by Megan Hart
• IMPROPER PLEASURE by Charlotte Featherstone
• CAUGHT IN THE ACT by Saskia Walker

I won’t get into the details of each story, so as not to spoil the quick, fun reads that they are, however there does seem to be something for just about everyone. This is a great way to get a quick boost to libido, too.

Assessment: Recommended

Notice: To comply FTC Guidelines, please be aware that this book was provided by the publisher as an ARC (advance reader’s copy) via NetGalley.

A brief musing on book reviews and ratings

When I first began, I never intended this blog to include book reviews.  After all, what did I have to offer? What would make my point of view relevant to others?

No, this site was a place to experiment with the internet and social networking, a place to comment periodically on my journey to become a published author. At the time, I was new to the online romance community, still trying to figure out what and who and where romance-fiction-minded folk participated, and how I –severe introvert that I am –could lurk. And maybe participate. But mostly I wanted to learn from you wonderful folk.

I found some very entertaining and educational sites here in RomanceLand. And, to my surprise, I discovered that I wasn’t so very usual after all. My family likely still thinks that I am, but that’s a blog for another day.

Then I went to my first RWA conference last summer in Washington, DC. And the publishers and authors there gave me some wonderful new books. A LOT of wonderful new books. Since I’d been submersed in the writing world, I learned first and foremost how very important the marketing aspect of this business is. A surprising amount is driven by word of mouth. And online review.

So, I wanted to do my part to help authors promote their books. I like to read –a lot. And I now had all of these shiny new books. And a blog I didn’t post to often. After thirty years (shhh! I began reading as an infant, of course!) of reading romance, I had an opinion about what I read.  I frequently use the reviews of others to try new authors, so why not pay in forward, so to speak?

OK, so I decided to begin reviewing.  What, exactly, was the best way to review a book?  I could write an opinion piece, sure (I better be able to, if I think I’m a writer!) but how does one go about scoring books from a reader’s perspective?  Some blogs use a 5-star scale, others use a 100-point scale, and still others use the ole’ A-B-C-etc grading scale I remember form school. I considered each of them, and struggled with how to objectively rate a book using these scales. They seem so very… subjective.  Yes, yes, I realize all reviews are subjective, but who am I to judge a book an ‘A’  or a ‘C+’.  What makes it a ‘+’ and not a straight ‘C’? What makes a book a 3-star instead of a 4-star?

Then it dawned on me that what I’m really doing is simply sharing a recommendation about a book. And I realized that I could treat a book review on this blog just the way I would treat a book recommendation to a friend. I either recommended it or I didn’t. Easy-peasy!

So, when you read reviews on this site, you’ll find a pretty simple system of ratings:

Highly Recommended = I think folks really need to read this book.

Recommended = I liked it pretty well and would loan it to a friend.

Not For Me = I would not recommend the book to others.

That’s it.  I hope other readers find the reviews helpful!

Review: What Isabella Desires by Anne Mallory

What Isabella Desires

by Anne Mallory

Avon Books, 2007

Historical Romance

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Lady Isabella Willoughby has always been patient and proper. But secretly, scandalously, she longs to be wild—to wear daring gowns while dancing the night away. Above all, she craves one thing:  to be more than merely a “friend” to Marcus, the dashing, sinfully handsome Lord Roth.

Marcus has everything—power, prestige, wealth . . . enemies. He thrives on danger and lives life to the fullest knowing each day might be his last, for he carries a dark family secret which precipitates one simple rule—never fall in love. Especially not with dear Bella, who has, of late, transformed herself into a siren, bewitching every male she encounters with her newly unfettered sensuality. Marcus must not allow himself to be tempted—but his resolve is weakening by the minute.

For what Isabella desires, she is determined to get . . .

Isabella Willoughby has been in love with Lord Roth for a decade or longer, but he has always treated her as a dear friend. Now, a widow, Isabella is determined to change her demure ways and make a play for Marcus. She’s determined to catch his eye and turn their relationship to something more than friends –friends with benefits, to be precise, since she knows that Marcus isn’t interested in marrying. It seems charming and daring that this woman is going to take charge of her life and go for what she really wants.

Then there’s the focus of her affection. For his part, Marcus is willing to play along, once he becomes aware of Isabella’s interest. Not because he’s got any deep, long-suppressed feelings for Isabella, beyond friendly fondness. Nor because he’s discovered new feelings for her. Nope.  He decides to accept her offer to deepen their relationship, at first because he wants to pacify her, seeing as she’s lonely and just looking for a lover or something. When she proves she’s serious about her interest in him and begins to get irritated that he’s simply humoring her with mild courtesy and an occasional dance, he thinks about stepping up his game, if only to keep her from just looking elsewhere to satisfy an itch. When the evhil villhin (who’s pretty easy to figure out, cardboard character that he is) targets poor Isabella to get back at Marcus, well, he’s finally spurred into action and takes her to the seaside where things get physical. Does he tell her why they have to leave town so abruptly? Of course not. Don’t want her knowing what’s really going on, when he can just play on her feelings.

Sadly, things never seem to develop more emotionally between them. Marcus breaks things off with Isabella for personal reasons, that are never really resolved. Instead, he just changes his mind at the end because…. well, he just decides to.

I really wanted to like this story. I did like Isabella and her motivations. She came across as a realistic and motivated. And I felt by the end of the story that she deserved someone better than Marcus, someone who actually would grow and care deeply for her. Marcus never really seems to feel anything unique or to even long for Isabella, at least no more at the end than he did at the beginning.

Assessment: Not for me.

Notice: To comply FTC Guidelines, please be aware that this book was provided by the publisher as a promotional giveaway at the 2009 RWA National Convention.