Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I read a much earlier draft of this story, but it was just as much of a pleasure to read the final product a second time around. Bauer features the best of both worlds here: despite this being a … Continue reading Review: “A Lord to Love” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Review: “And Now For Something Completely Different” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s Short Story) by Jodi Taylor
I love when stories are exactly what they say on the tin, but when the St. Mary's crew is involved, you know it's still going to outrageous. The Christmas story for 2018 features very little Christmas and a lot of planetary-hopping shenanigans. As someone who follows the current research into getting the first human to … Continue reading Review: “And Now For Something Completely Different” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s Short Story) by Jodi Taylor
Review: “A Questionable Client” (Kate Daniels #0.5) by Ilona Andrews
This short story takes place prior to any of the novels in the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series. However, reading this story after reading at least the first novel, Magic Bites, works best. "A Questionable Client" tells the story of how Kate first meets one of her informational contacts, a shape-shifter called Saiman. He's kind of … Continue reading Review: “A Questionable Client” (Kate Daniels #0.5) by Ilona Andrews
Review: “Remnant” (Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery) by K.J. Charles& Jordan L. Hawk
This short story is available as a free download from K.J. Charles' website. It is best read after Stormhaven (Whyborne & Griffin #3) by Jordan L. Hawk and the full collection of The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles because it contains significant spoilers for both. There need to be more cross-over stories between authors I enjoy … Continue reading Review: “Remnant” (Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery) by K.J. Charles& Jordan L. Hawk
Reviews: “Interlude with Tattoos,” “The Smuggler and the Warlord,” and “Feast of Stephen” (A Charm of Magpies short stories) by K.J. Charles
The following short stories are part of the Charm of Magpies series, an historical fantasy-romance world by K.J. Charles. They are best read as companions to the main trilogy. Lucien Vaudrey, or Lord Crane, has seven magpie tattoos. This is presented in the first book of the trilogy, and only part of what makes him … Continue reading Reviews: “Interlude with Tattoos,” “The Smuggler and the Warlord,” and “Feast of Stephen” (A Charm of Magpies short stories) by K.J. Charles
Reviews: “Song for a Viking” and “Wanted, an Author” by K.J. Charles
The following stories are available for free on the author's website and cannot be read as stand-alones. They are lovely follow-ups to the novels referenced in the reviews. "Song for a Viking" takes place immediately after the novel Think of England and is best read with the ending of the book in mind. I enjoyed this … Continue reading Reviews: “Song for a Viking” and “Wanted, an Author” by K.J. Charles
Reviews: “A Confidential Problem” and “A Private Miscellany” (Society of Gentlemen short stories) by K.J. Charles
The two following reviews are of content freely available on the author's website as supplemental material to the Society of Gentlemen series. Neither can be read as stand-alone, but are best enjoyed following a read of the full series. "A Confidential Problem" is a lovely deleted scene that shows David Cyprian and Silas Mason, two … Continue reading Reviews: “A Confidential Problem” and “A Private Miscellany” (Society of Gentlemen short stories) by K.J. Charles
Review: “Marine Biology” (San Andreas Shifters short story) by G.L. Carriger
Cute story that was short and sweet. I’m not a huge fan of the “insta-love” trope in romances, but you can hand-wave it away here as a werewolf mating thing. Getting some background into the characters that I adore in The Sumage Solution was nice, however. The plot aspect of this story felt a bit … Continue reading Review: “Marine Biology” (San Andreas Shifters short story) by G.L. Carriger
Review: “The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh” (Society of Gentlemen short story) by K.J. Charles
This short story acts as a sort of prequel to the Society of Gentlemen series, filling in the background for one of the established parings in the full trilogy. It can be read as a stand-alone. My favorite part of this story is card game of "strip poker," though Ash and Francis are playing a … Continue reading Review: “The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh” (Society of Gentlemen short story) by K.J. Charles
For Love the Bell Tolls: Author Interviews
Today, I'm pleased to spotlight a new anthology featuring some fabulous authors. These gothic romance short stories will have you quivering (in whichever way you choose to interpret the phrase) in your hot apple cider! ABOUT THE BOOK Six haunting stories of love with a paranormal twist, including a traditional nineteenth century possessed house, lycanthropy … Continue reading For Love the Bell Tolls: Author Interviews
Review: Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales
Written by Justin Richards Illustrated by David Wardle As part of an amazing Doctor Who-themed raffle basket I won recently, I acquired this amazing boxed set of "Time Lord Fairy Tales." These sixteen short stories are told in the fashion of the fairy tales they are based on, but just like the television show they are … Continue reading Review: Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales
Review: Born to Love Wild edited by Cara McKinnon
Disclaimer: I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review; I consider the editor and some of the contributors friends. Normally I keep my short story reviews, well, short, and only call out two books when I review anthologies (favorite story and story I'd like to see expanded … Continue reading Review: Born to Love Wild edited by Cara McKinnon
Review: “The Steam Pump Jump” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short) by Jodi Taylor
This short story very much needs the context of pretty much all of the novels in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series so far to understand the detail of what's going on. But otherwise, it's a "typical" St. Mary's lark, full of the usual shenanigans and mayhem (#disastermagnets). And as an added bonus, it's from … Continue reading Review: “The Steam Pump Jump” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short) by Jodi Taylor
Review: “CTRL Me” by Anna Zabo
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this ebook short story for full price. While I continue my trend of reading everything Anna Zabo writes, I appreciate that they've taught me a lot about my romance genre preferences. I enjoyed this particular short tremendously, but I think I prefer my romance in … Continue reading Review: “CTRL Me” by Anna Zabo
Review: “The Unexpected Infatuation” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this short story ebook for full price. I wasn't sure about this short story at first. I'm not keen on the idea of anyone cheating in a relationship, nor do I particularly find the "gay for you" trope appealing. The writing of this story, however, … Continue reading Review: “The Unexpected Infatuation” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Review: “Wild Type” by J.K. Ullrich
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this short story as part of the full novel Syzygy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This short story acts as a great supplemental material to the novel Syzygy. I enjoyed the insight into the character of Lily's life in her youth, especially through effective use … Continue reading Review: “Wild Type” by J.K. Ullrich
Review: “The Battersea Barricades” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Finally, some "history" of the world of St. Mary's! Taylor's authorial voice makes pages and pages of expository narrative delightful rather than boring. Even more fascinating, this time she's not talking about something "real" -- this time the historical events are all from her imagination. I loved every intricate detail of it. The more specific … Continue reading Review: “The Battersea Barricades” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid! (Bluewater Bay #6)
"Just Another Day" by L.A. Witt: I loved this quick check-in with our first Bluewater Bay couple, actors Carter and Levi. Levi is his usual cantankerous and loveable self, Carter is still too perfect for words, and I'd be jealous of those cats if I didn't own three ridiculous Siamese of my own. Also, those … Continue reading Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid! (Bluewater Bay #6)
Review: “Christmas Past” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Though this review won't get posted until after the holiday itself, this story was easily one of my favorite Christmas presents this year. Taylor blows me away with her ability to weave humor and heartbreak into the same passages. Though this story didn't have quite as much of the usual St. Mary's shenanigans, it was … Continue reading Review: “Christmas Past” (Chronicles of St. Mary’s short story) by Jodi Taylor
Review: “A Case of Spirits” (A Charm of Magpies short) by K.J. Charles
This short story was included in my Kindle edition of A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2). This delightful short story doesn't add much to the interpersonal relationship between Lord Crane and Stephen Day, but it does show how Crane and his manservant Merrick have become intricately linked with Day's world of magician justiciars. … Continue reading Review: “A Case of Spirits” (A Charm of Magpies short) by K.J. Charles