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Some people only read historical romances, while others have a penchant for werewolf heroes -- I’ll pretty much read any type of romance – if the characters and situation click with me, the “genre” doesn’t matter so much. That being said, I’m not a huge reader of BDSM. While I can understand the needs and desires in a D/s relationship, I don’t find it as easy to relate to. The issues of power, control and love need to be handled very carefully, and not all authors do it well. Over the weekend I read a D/s book that was recommended to me by my friend and critique partner, Maya Reynolds, and it reminded me of this incredible novella by Joey W. Hill. As with the recommendations I’ve classified as “non-traditional sexuality”, BDSM is not for everyone. For the open-minded, this is an amazing piece of writing. Premise: Savannah was raised by her corporate mogul father to be a machine, earning her the nickname, “cyborg”. He taught her to suppress her emotions, deny her needs, and be the strongest “man” out there. Matt, a business associate, knew that Savannah would never consciously allow herself the vulnerability of being wooed, so he stages an elaborate “hostile takeover” to show her that, while her physical needs may be satisfied in many ways, he is the one she needs to satisfy the needs of her long neglected heart. What I Liked as a Reader: It’s got that wonderful mix of HOT and sweet that I love so much. The characters are all incredibly well drawn. Their motivations clear and true, their emotions deep and real. The BDSM elements were intense, sometimes leaving me slack-jawed, but the emotional element was always there – heart-wrenching and raw. What I Liked as a Writer: I found this plot to be very daring, and I admire writers who push the envelope. The relationship between Savannah and Matt is quite complex for a novella-length story. Hill managed to successfully convey great depth in this relationship in a short work – which isn’t easy -- layering deeper and deeper levels of intimacy and emotion, while at the same time peeling back layers of character. Not a word in this story was meaningless or out of place. To top it all off, her writing is simply beautiful. [posted 12/5/2005]
I’ve been doing some research on shapeshifting characters recently, and I came across a reference to Emma Holly’s story “The Night Owl.” It sounded interesting, and to my surprise, it was in a book I already had on my self. I had bought Hot Blooded because of Angela Knight’s story – which, by the way, I would recommend as well – and hadn’t read any further. In the name of research, I pulled the book off the shelf and began to read. I’m glad I did -- it would have been sad to have missed this one. Premise: Mariann runs bakery in the country, and has been having dreams about one of the sexy new owners of the B&B down the street. But, having sworn off attractive men after her experience with her ex-husband, she decides she is not interested in actually getting to know the man. Bastien and his friend Emile have come to the States, from Scotland, to make a new start, possibly to form a new pack. He knows from the first minute he sees Mariann that she is destined to be his mate, and dares to hope she will be his queen – but he’s too shy to approach her. What I liked as a reader: The vampire thing can get old. Holly has a great twist on the genre. Not only does her heroine resist succumbing to the typical “Oh my gosh! He’s a vampire!” hysterics, but the upyr, Holly’s unique vampire/shapeshifter creations, are cool! I also liked that Bastien was shy. A very unusual quality in an Alpha-male hero. The sex is HOT. What I liked as a writer: A novella length story is difficult because it doesn’t give the writer much time or space to create a convincing love match. By the end of the story, Mariann has only really known Bastien for a couple of days, but Holly handles the “love” element perfectly. I really appreciate it when a writer comes up with something different and interesting to do with vampires. Holly’s world of the upyr is definitely one I will be exploring more in the future. (Angela Knight also manages to create a new and interesting twist on the vampire with her Megaverse.) If you enjoy vampires and shapeshifting heroes, this anthology is well worth reading. [posted 12/12/2005]
In the spirit of the holiday season, this week I decided to do something a little different. Instead of one book, I’m recommending two holiday stories. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for holiday stories – Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween – it doesn’t really matter; I love a good seasonal romance. This month I’ve devoured my share of winter holiday tales, and have come up with these two picks. “Solstice Magic” Premise: Aleksi had spent his whole life in training to be a holy man, and indeed, seemed destined to be one of the greatest magic-workers ever. But one day, devastatingly, he found that his powers had disappeared. Confused and angry, he moved to the humble village of Nayanka, where he lives in a cave, eating barely enough to survive, and refusing any pleasure as he licks his wounds. The gods and a handsome villager named Berin must teach Aleksi lessons about life and love, and the true meaning of magic. What I liked about “Solstice Magic”: Sometimes holiday short stories feel quick and forced, but “Solstice Magic” was beautifully complete and satisfying. The story of how Berin, and the gods, bring Aleksi back to life is very sweet and, of course, HOT. “Jingle Bites” Premise: All that Ruth knows about her neighbors is that they throw really loud parties. What she doesn’t know is that werewolf Derek and vampire Alastair are sexual partners of a sort: they like to share women. When Derek overhears Ruth’s confession to her best friend – that she never climaxes with her partners, and that she has secret fantasies about TWO men – her life changes forever. What I liked about “Jingle Bites”: This story packs A LOT of heat, but what makes it so memorable is the very sweet story of two men who find the love they have been searching for at Christmastime. It's also very funny. Happy Holiday reading! [posted 12/21/05]
I bought this anthology because one of the stories is by a favorite author of mine, Stephanie Vaughan. She did not disappoint; her story, “Home for the Holidays,” is fantastic. What I find so compelling about anthologies though, is that you never know what you’ll find. I generally buy them because a specific author’s story is included – that way I know I can count on enjoying at least one of the entries. Every once in a while I find a gem in the mix, as was the case with Rated: X-Mas. With “Twice Blessed”, I not only found a REALLY good story, but even more exciting for me, an author I had not yet read, with lots of published works. The Premise: After graduating from college, Jenny is on her way across country to a new job in California. En route, she meets Damien and Devlin Blake in a sexually charged encounter on the freeway. Seven years pass, and she never quite forgets the sexy brothers. She is pleasantly surprised when she encounters the men again, on a trip home for the holidays. Sparks ignite between the three immediately, and continue to blaze hotter over the next few days. For Jenny, it is bittersweet. She has never been happier than when she is with Damien and Devlin – or more sexually satisfied – but she knows she will have to return home soon to the job that she loves. What I liked as a reader: This is a REALLY sexy story. Damien and Devlin are just yummm. The werewolf mythology that Bo creates is interesting and a just different enough to make it unique. The ménage between the three characters is intense – not just sexually. What I liked as a writer: The writing in this story is REALLY hot, even the potentially offensive scenes where Jenny has sex with the brothers when they are in wolf form. I like writers who push the envelope and don’t stay with things that are “safe” -- I especially like it when they can write an edgy story, but still convince me that there is genuine emotion between the characters. Bo succeeded on all fronts. I can’t wait to read more. [posted 12/26/2005] |
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