Review: The Saturnalia Effect

July 2, 2012Kassa 3 Comments

The Saturnalia Effect by Heidi Belleau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Storm Moon Press continues to publish thought provoking, edgy, and very compelling stories. The Saturnalia Effect is no different and offers an absorbing and clever novella. It’s the perfect length to tease the reader but could easily have been longer and more involved. The short scene at the end attests to how much more the story still has to say. Nonetheless, TSE is a great quick tale that excites, engages, and leaves you wondering. My only criticisms are that the characters could have been explored more and the ending, which is both genius and a cop out. Continue reading →

Review: Frog

June 19, 2012Kassa 4 Comments

Frog by Mary Calmes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I actually finished the whole book, which I consider a bit of a feat, considering I didn’t like this one. I didn’t hate it to the depths of it’s soul but frankly I find very little appealing about Frog. It’s clichéd, ridiculous, full of perfect Gary Stu characters and the author’s voice is muddled with too many cutesy and perfect moments. There is no tension, no romance, and no real genuine emotion by anyone without even getting into the various situations that simply wouldn’t happen in real life and the story doesn’t even attempt to make the reader buy into them. Continue reading →

Review: One Good Year

June 12, 2012Kassa Leave a comment

One Good Year by Rowan McBride
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I vaguely remember quite liking both this author and the previous book so I snapped this one up on that brief passing feeling. While this sequel is decent and helps recall events from the previous book, it feels too incomplete and flounders looking for a strong purpose. Initially I was really excited to read from Spade’s first person POV but soon I realized he’s just as empty and mysterious as he was in the first book. Without Ace’s charming personality to help cover any gaps in the writing and storyline, this sequel leaves a lot to be desired. The author’s winning voice and engaging manner shines through and makes the novella easy to read and get through but it easy falls short of the original and by a lot sadly. Continue reading →

Review: One Man’s Treasure

June 4, 2012Kassa Leave a comment

One Man’s Treasure by Nicole Kimberling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One Man’s Treasure is a thoroughly enjoyable read and visit down memory lane with familiar characters. You can easily pick this up without having read the previous books, as I had only a passing memory of the characters and situation when I started this latest book, so don’t worry if you’re a latecomer to the series. Those that remember the series more than my faint memory will appreciate a lot of the nuances and details that connect to the previous books. The formula is similar for almost all the books in the series where Peter finds a mystery and gets in trouble trying to solve it. Yet the crisp writing and endearing narrator help overcome any sense of “been there, done that” with a repetitive formula. Continue reading →

Review: Home Ice

May 25, 2012Kassa Leave a comment

Home Ice by Kate Sherwood
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I’ve liked previous Kate Sherwood stories so I took a chance on this one even though it’s from a publisher I usually avoid. Sadly I should have known better and stayed away even though I like this author. Home Ice is a cliché on a cliché filled with super quick actions, repetitive elements, very little unique detail and ultimately wooden characters. I liked the hockey elements, which come across genuine and interesting. The coaching environment and the teens are fun and eye catching but there are too many distracting elements. The story can’t quite decide what it is and therefore throws a bunch of unrelated actions together to try to create some tension. It works but not successfully or in a good way. Continue reading →

Review: False Start

May 16, 2012Kassa Leave a comment

False Start by Janey Chapel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m a fan of Chapel’s work and with this offering I realize I like her writing more than I like the actual plot. The story here is predictable though well told, and almost boring with its mundane and expected actions. There’s nothing unique or different to the story but Chapel’s clean, inviting prose makes it enjoyable to read anyway. She has a way of writing that invokes clear, impressionable imagery while being smoking hot every single time. It wasn’t until I hit the end of the novella that I realized the characters are woefully under developed, there’s no closure, and no real purpose to the story. Yet despite these issues the crispness of her writing makes me want to read it again for the easy flow, wrenching emotions, and hot sensuality. Continue reading →

Review: Chase in Shadow

May 2, 2012Kassa 4 Comments

Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Chase in Shadow is a somewhat typical Amy Lane story filled with angst and emotionally damaged men. There is enough emotional turmoil, tears, and intense drama to exhaust anyone at the end of reading but the ending is definitely and very solidly a happy, deeply in love ending. These kinds of stories have become almost, I’m sorry to say, formulaic for Lane. The individual protagonists are expectedly broken and damaged almost to the point of no return but the deep love of another slightly less damaged but still broken man can help save them both. This only happens after considerable emotional torture and pain but all’s well in the end. There are enough differences in the circumstances and details to make each story interesting so if you’re a fan of Lane’s style, you’ll likely appreciate this addition. Continue reading →

Review: Secret Light

April 9, 2012Kassa Leave a comment

Secret Light by Z.A. Maxfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The last few ZAM books have been good but they haven’t hit the high notes of previous books for me. Finally Secret Light delivers the addictive and engaging prose by Maxfield I love so much. Here the story flows so easily with wonderful characters that the few flaws and obvious story manipulations are easy to forgive. There’s not such a defined happy ending but it fits with the time period and general story making it easy to see there likely will be a happy ending, even if it’s not spelled out. The tone is more subdued, as fits the story and characters, so this isn’t exactly a feel good holiday story, nor is it exactly a Hanukkah story, but it’s definitely worth reading and I quite liked it. Continue reading →

Review: The Forester

April 2, 2012Kassa 2 Comments

The Forester by Blaine D. Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Forester is an impressive mix of fantasy and murder/mystery. The writing is superior and the romance is a nice touch without being too easy and ignoring the many potential problems. I personally liked the mystery component of the story more than the romance as ménages are a tough sell that I don’t always appreciate. Overall I quite like this novella and recommend it even if the threesome didn’t quite win me over as a reader. Continue reading →

Review: DUC*K

December 21, 2011Kassa Leave a comment

D*U*C*K by Poppy Z. Brite
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

D*U*C*K is a series of vignettes put together featuring G-man and Rickey. They’re somewhat related but also has a random feel to the collection. I guess there is an over reaching arc in that a former employee is rising to kind of challenge Rickey while Liquor is getting ready to serve at an out of town banquet featuring Rickey’s hero crush. The stories do have common elements but they also feel disconnected and arbitrary. That said it’s a fun, quick novella to read without the punch and impact of previous novels. Continue reading →

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