Review of Jamie Craig's "Outcast Mine"

Author: Jamie Craig
Title: Outcast Mine
Length: Novel

Author's Blurb

There is nothing Aleron Pitre can't steal, nobody he can't con and no situation he can't slip out of—until he's sent to the prison planet Tantoret, where every sentence is death. If the prisoners don't kill each other, they'll die slowly from mining the poisonous drug chojal. Yet Aleron still hopes that he can escape.


Only thirty Athaki guards keep the chaos of Tantoret in check, a race of aliens stronger and faster than their human charges. Most intimidating of all is the head guard, Jasak, who has his own reasons for being sent to Tantoret.


Amidst the darkness and desperation, Aleron and Jasak share an unexpected attraction. An attraction neither can resist when Jasak claims Aleron as his mate to protect him. Then they discover that both guards and inmates are planning a coup, while a traitor from an enemy nation threatens the whole planet. Suddenly escape from Tantoret isn't just Aleron's dream—it's a matter of survival for them both.


What I Thought
The positive points:
The plot was strong, the pacing quick without being confusing, and the descriptions of Tantoret, the prison planet, were memorable. The story permeated each page; despite long conversations between the two heroes, each episode served to further not only their relationship, but the plot. The romance augments an already interesting tale. Jamie Craig is a skillful writer, and the setting was sufficiently detailed to follow the intricacies of the interplanetary politics that had bearing upon the central romance.


The negative points:
There were very few indeed. The point-of-view shifts focused too often on minor characters other than the heroes. This detracted from the otherwise tight focus of the novel. It did not, however, by any means ruin the experience.


Adonis says:



Get it here.

Review of Xondra Day's "Our Dirty Little Secret"

Author: Xondra Day
Title: Our Dirty Little Secret
Length: Novella

Author's Blurb

Ann Hunter is a woman on the edge. She's just turned forty, and while her marriage to her handsome and attentive husband, Jeff, is stellar, she can't help but daydream about the new hunky next-door neighbor, Mike Monroe. Little does she know her husband is experiencing similar feelings but can't bring himself to let them be known, until a secret kiss forces him to face something he has hidden deep inside for years.


Mike never expected this turn of events when he moved into the neighborhood, yet all he can think about is Jeff, the man of his dreams. There is only one problem—Jeff is married.


When an opportunity comes up for an unplanned holiday weekend at the lake, all three are eager to partake. Things happen, secrets are revealed, and boundaries are broken as all three venture into unexplored, forbidden territory.


Note: This book contains double vaginal penetration.


What I Thought
The positive points:

The writing was smooth and even, the overall pacing good. Despite its novella length, Our Dirty Little Secret fully developed the three main characters. Ann, in particular, was believable as the forty-year-old woman whose sexual desires are in overdrive. The sex scenes between Jeff and Ann were descriptive and vivid. The menage scene was sufficiently different from the earlier scenes of M/M and M/F sex to hold interest to the end.

The negative points:

Oddly, for a novella, the most negative aspect of Our Dirty Little Secret was an unnecessary addition concerning Ann's sister's marriage. Despite the clearly intended contrast between Ann's sister's marriage – falling apart due to the husband's cheating – and Ann's, there was insufficient connection to the meat of the story. Either the sister's marriage should have come more to the fore, becoming important to the story, or it should have been cut altogether. As it stands, the whole subplot jars. The other drawback was the suddenness of Ann's change from fury to arousal upon the discovery of her husband with another man. It is a possible reaction, but the description, particularly given Ann's earlier feelings about her sister's adulterous husband, did not do justice to Ann's changing feelings.

Adonis says:

Get it here.

First-Round Edits for "Worth His Freedom"

We received and have sent back our first round of edits for Worth His Freedom. We're quite pleased with Evernight and Caitlin Ray for thorough, intelligent, and piercing edits. Reading as both an editor and as a reader must be tough, and we respect the talent and know-how that an editor must have to do his or her job well. 


It was funny that our publisher gave us two weeks to do the edits. We finished in two hours -- but, then, we've always moved fast. We've completed the MS for our second novel -- still hush-hush on what it's about and the title and all that -- so once Worth His Freedom has a set release date, we'll be subbing again. 


Wish us luck!

Evernight Publishing Birthday Bash

Evernight Publishing celebrates its first birthday October 1st, 2011. If you join in the Author Blog Hop, you'll be eligible for great prizes, such as a $40 Evernight gift certificate or even $50 credit on your paypal account. But the grand prize is even better: a Kindle e-reader! That's right. Go here for more details, and get hopping!

Review of Georgia Fox's "The Virgin Proxy"

Author: Georgia Fox
Title: The Virgin Proxy
Length: Full

Author's Blurb

When the Normans conquered England, Deorwynn lost almost everything, including her family. Only one beloved brother survives.  To rescue him, she must sacrifice her virginity in the enemy’s bed.  She should be well prepared.  After spending fifteen years in a grim convent, punished for every sinful thought, Deorwynn can withstand any torment at the hands of a merciless, Norman warrior.

But nothing, she soon learns, could prepare her for falling in love.

Guy Devaux is delighted with the amorous virgin waiting for him on his wedding night.  There’s only one problem.  The saucy-mouthed wench is not his bride. Oh yes, he knows the veiled woman in his bed is an imposter, but he’ll go along with the game.  For now.  The punishment for her deception will come later. 

Just as soon as he conquers this foolish desire, this yearning to hear her say she loves him.

What I Thought


The positive points:
The romance was fiery, showcasing the wildness of both the hero and the heroine. Their physical attraction was clear, and Georgia Fox's descriptions of their sex were varied and vivid, with period-appropriate terminology which added to the atmosphere. The pacing was strong, and the book did not flag. The ending was satisfying, with Deorwynn well-settled into her new life, enjoying her new love. The growth of Guy was equally enjoyable, and his behavior was consistent and believable, given his established personality.


The negative points:
There were not many, as Georgia Fox's style is easy and polished, her command of her characters strong and good. The largest difficulty was in the anachronistic behavior of the hero. A fear of "settling down" in marriage would not have been a feeling that a Norman of the period would have.


Adonis says...

Get it here.

Review of Kelly Yeakle's "Forbidden Desires"

Author: Kelly Yeakle
Title: Forbidden Desires
Length: Full

Author's Blurb

When Dani meets the delicate beauty that is Carmen she knows instantly that she wants her—in her life and in her bed. But can Miss. Commitment-phobic look beyond the sex to see the woman beneath?


To Carmen, the wildly beautiful Dani is a new and exciting friend. What she hadn't counted on is the simmering desire she feels when in Dani's presence. As her relationship with her boyfriend sours, Carmen begins to wonder if there is more to Dani than she realizes.


Should she give in to this, the most forbidden of desires?


What I Thought


The positive points:
The romance developed at a pace which I found believable, and the story arc was satisfactory, showing both Dani's growth from a commitment-phobic flirt to a one-woman girl as well as Carmen's realization of her bisexuality. Their physical attraction was displayed from the beginning, and the alternating points of view showed both sides clearly. The ending was fitting, giving Carmen the happily-ever-after she had always longed for and Dani the one she had never known she needed. Both characters were well-developed, and their interactions were believable.


The negative points:
The sex scenes were repetitive, and there was insufficient description of the "naughty things" which Dani fantasized about doing to Carmen. Instead of showing what Dani had in mind, Kelly Yeakle gives only a light gloss of the sex between the two women. In particular, the scene in Carmen's parents' house, where the pair first have sex, ought to have received a more thorough treatment. It was the first time Carmen had had sex with another woman, and the description ended after Carmen was brought to climax for the first time. More description would have helped to explain the change in Carmen between that night and the next morning.

Adonis says...

Get it here.

Review of Carolyn Rosewood's "Hunted"

Author: Carolyn Rosewood
Title: Hunted
Length: Novella

Author's Blurb

For the past four hundred years, Jahi Wickes has made forged documents and credit cards for the female demons who seduce men into signing away their souls. While enjoying the parades at Mardi Gras, she's ambushed by two angels. One is her former guardian angel, and the other is the Nephilim who’s tracking him.


Dagon has been chasing Vassago for three years. His first big break comes in the form of a cute, sexy demon. When he learns the real reason Vassago is hunting her, Dagon has more trouble than he bargained for. Not only was Vassago sent to guard souls in Purgatory after screwing up his assignment with Jahi, but the person who paid him to destroy her is one of her fellow demons.


What I Thought


The positive points:
I enjoyed the skill with which Carolyn Rosewood drew me into the story. From the first page, with its Mardi Gras parade and attempted capture of the heroine, I was interested. I wanted to know what happened next. I also appreciated that I did not have to have read the previous installment in her series to understand and enjoy this one. The sex scenes were steamy; each one was hot without being repetitive, which was quite a feat considering the proportion of the novella which was taken up with the sex. The plot had just enough twists to keep it interesting without overburdening the novella. Do not assume, however, this book, despite its angels-and-demons motif, to follow standard Christian mythology.


The negative points:
There were not many because Carolyn Rosewood writes in a smooth, readable style, well-suited to her subject matter. The biggest drawback for me was the rushing of the romance between Jahi and Dagon. It was not precisely a "love-at-first-sight" romance, despite the physical attraction so clearly present on both sides. Had it been a full love-at-first-sight, that would have been different. As it was, however, the love which grew up between Dagon and Jahi was not given, in my opinion, sufficient scope or time. This is a necessary constraint of the novella form, though, and not something I could legitimately hold against the otherwise extremely well-executed story.


Look for longer works from Ms. Rosewood in the future!


Adonis says...

Get it here.