Dark Diva Reviews

In New York City, Travis Carmichael wakens with the strange premonition that his wayward, partying twin brother Trevor is dead. Convinced of this dream, he is surprised to learn his brother has survived a massive drug overdose at Zara's night club.

Trevor meanwhile, wakens disoriented and amnesiac…except that Trevor's soul has departed and the unwilling spirit of Zara Benjamin has entered his body.  Just as she struggles with being a he - and a black he at that - she/he finds herself falling in love with club bouncer Ramsay Logan, the man who saved his life.

Can Trevor and Ramsey find happiness together or do heavenly forces have a different fate in mind for Zara and for Trevor whose overdose was no accident but an attempted homicide by a maniac waiting for his next chance to finish what he started?

In this third installment of the dead Zara's earthly adventures created by divine intervention (or interference, depending on your point of view), she is transported back to earth to save the soul of OD'd retching, vomiting twink Trevor.

This visual, intriguing start to McKeever's tale sets the pace for an unusual and convincing story of reincarnation and scorching M/M sex. Bouncer's Folly has deceptive layers woven through it. There's the karmic connection of twins, a nasty dom, issues of gender identity, drugs, self-loathing pretty boys and a gritty, believable New York club and drug scene, not to mention some very bossy angels.

Phew.

Bouncers Folly is written in a very visual, readable, yet highly literary style. Gracie C. Mckeever blends her hot man on man action with a spiritual tale of love's redemption.  Having not read the first two books, it never felt like this was a problem. The author infuses enough information about Zara to make this story flow naturally as a stand-alone title, yet made this reviewer want to run out and buy the first two books in the series. A skillful, masterful tale told by an author with genuine talent and a compelling taste for the macabre.

Rated Five Delightful Divas by AJ Llewellyn

War has broken out between the wizard factions, and the Milice de Sorcellerie must find help somewhere, and soon, or those wizards who practice dark magic will win the war. Then it won't only be wizards and other magical folk dying, but normals, too. It falls to Alain to make an alliance with the only group the Milice can see might be strong enough to make a difference; the vampires. Alain is eager to see an end to the war that has claimed the lives of too many of his friends, his ex-wife and even his son. So when he agrees to be the wizards' contact with the vampire, he is determined to do whatever is necessary to make the alliance happen. What he isn't prepared for is how very attractive his counterpart turns out to be. Far from being frightened or disgusted by the vampire's nature, Alain finds himself more than a little attracted to the man. Orlando, young and inexperienced, for a vampire, is frightened by his own attraction to Alain. Both men have suffered too many losses, too much pain to take a chance, but they find they can't help themselves. But their partnership is the linchpin of the alliance. One small misunderstanding between two men from very different worlds could spell the end of the alliance, the end of the world they know, and there's a very good chance neither one of them will survive another broken heart.

Warnings: explicit m/m sex, magical violence, mention of abuse

My review: Be warned: this is only book one in a four book series and you probably won't be satisfied with just one instalment. The author paints a vivid picture of Paris in the fall and draws her characters in all their three dimensional agony, hope and fear to wonderful effect. I fell in love just about as quickly as they did. The sex scenes manage to strike that all important balance between tenderness sand heat that I love, and the other relationships, the friendships, the mentors, and the less warm and fuzzy relationships all ring true.

Some people will scoff at the speed with which the main characters fall for each other, especially given their pasts, but I think it was well thought out. It illustrates perfectly what makes these vampires and wizards different from the hundreds of others you read about in the past. Ariel has taken some of the best bits of vampire lore, mixed them with some original ideas and come up with an interesting and plausible variation. It makes all that follows believable.

However, just once, I'd like to pick up a book, get to the end, and actually be at the end. In all fairness, I knew this book was part one of a series, but that didn't prepare me for the abrupt ending. There's a trick to writing a series, and for the most part, it doesn't include leaving the reader hanging. Yes, you have to leave a few plot lines frayed. You have to leave some questions unanswered so your reader will feel compelled to pick up the next book because they are curious, not because they feel forced to so they can read the rest of the story. Frankly, dropping the story in the middle so you can sell another book makes me feel a little bit manipulated.

I'll tell you why; I would have read the next book anyway. I love these characters. I want them to win the war, I want them to win each other, and I want to follow the other characters into their relationships. As this book was more about Alain and Orlando than it was about the war, I wasn't too concerned with the lack of action. I was disappointed that the entire story line lead up to the ultimate consummation of their bond, then that consummation never happened. I suppose we have that to look forward to along with the war, the cementing of the other half dozen wizard/vampire pairs, and the mystery of why two of the strongest vampires really don't get along. For me, that's at least one too many loose ends.

My recommendation: If you're going to read this one, and I really suggest if you like vampires, M/M romance and/or angst, you do, make sure you have all the books on hand. At least then you can pretend it didn't drop you like hot potato in the middle of the tale. As annoyed as I was to find I didn't get to read the whole story in one go, I liked it. I'll get the other books.

Four delightful divas

Maen is a Gold Warrior, a defender of Aza City, a world controlled by the Queen and her womankind where the best of men are maintained for the military and the women's  pleasure. A favorite of his imperious Mistress and a leader among his men, Maen is too cautious to seek casual sexual satisfaction and so stays alone, taking his comfort in ensuring a stable and controlled world. That world is thrown into disarray by Dax, a bold and challenging new Bronze soldier who excites Maen with his fierce hero worship and leads them to a forbidden affair. They find themselves thrown together in a dangerous and hostile environment without the support of the City and far away from their loyalties, and Maen finds himself risking everything for Dax – his position; his loyalties; and eventually, his life.

Review
Summary: Maen has always prided himself on being the perfect soldier, the perfect Gold Warrior, the perfect man. He has dedicated his life to his city and his Mistress and never dreams of any other life.

Then along comes Dax, a Remainder boy who manages, through sheer determination, to be Chosen into one of the finest Households in the City. All he's ever wanted was a place to belong, a place to feel he isn't second best.

Dax has awakened something in Maen the Gold Warrior has ruthlessly suppressed his entire life. He has kept it so well hidden, the last to recognize it for what it is is Maen himself. When a tragic attack from the Exiles on the city takes the lives of some of his men and leaves Maen and Dax prisoners outside the City and everything they've known, they have to rely on one another to find a way home. The trouble is, some doors, once open, can never be closed, and there's truth in the saying, you can never go back.

My review: I have to admit to a certain bias here. I've read and liked Clare's short stories before now, so I was glad of the opportunity to spend a little more time with her characters and exploring her world. I wasn't disappointed. Clare has a knack for creating characters who, while flawed, are still very likeable, rounded, easy to root for heroes. (Even the ones you don't like, but that, literally, is another story).

Let's talk about unreliable narrators for a minute. When I began this book, I was a good way in and I kept thinking, this just isn't like her. Everything is happening off set, just outside the frame. It was frustrating to the point of distraction. Maen was walking through this story of his life and we were being told about what happened to him through third parties. Constantly. It seemed like such an odd mistake for Clare to make, and such an obvious one for her editor not to pick up on.

Then came the tipping point in the story. The tragic turn of events that took Maen away from his 'comfortable' life in the City, taking his Devotions like every good soldier does, and bingo. Suddenly we begin to see the world, and Maen, through his own, slowly clearing eyes. Here is an example of taking a seemingly inviolate rule and flagrantly breaking it. Because Maen as a character can't see his life or himself clearly because of the drugs he's being fed, neither can we. Once the veil is lifted, Maen becomes the character everyone around him wants him to be, or, in some cases, is afraid he might become. It's beautifully done. In retrospective.

I suspect the difficulty I had at the beginning of the book has to do less with the technique used to illustrate Maen's character growth than it does with another technical stumble; Clare's finely crafted characters seem to be floating in space a bit.

While I love and empathize with the characters, and am eager to read book two to find out what happens to them, I have no real feel for the City, for their planet, for the world they live in. There are frustratingly spare glimpses of what appears to be a rich, compelling, completely alien society, unlike anything I've come across before. This book could easily have expanded another 50% by developing that society, the planet, the City, the entire backdrop, and not lost one bit of its impact. There is so much to explore and so little time taken to do so. Given the complexity of the society in which these men live, Clare has quite obviously put a lot of thought into how it all works, but in my opinion, left out a little bit too much. I didn't feel comfortable with the lack of a sense of place, time and history.

Be that as it may, once I realized what was going on with the narration at the beginning, I found things picked up considerably, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I have to say, for those of you who might be surprised, the first intimate scene in the book is het. And wonderfully done. All the sex scenes are. There is no ambiguity here. Maen is not conflicted in his desires as far as his physical release is concerned. (His heart is a different matter, but isn't that the whole point?) It's nice to see a bisexual character just be what he is without it being an issue. All in all, I was pretty sure taking time to dip into this author's world would be time well spent, and I was right.

My recommendation: I bought the book for my shelf. Read it. Read book two. (I'm confident enough to say this without having read it yet myself - it isn't even out yet!) and just for fun, read the other story I mentioned earlier and the second part

Four and a half delightful divas
 

Love triangles. Alien monsters. Planetary war. Just another day in space.

Sebastien ven Hester, decorated war hero and captain of the sentient cargo ship Naurus, can face any danger—except his own feelings. Jason North, his pilot, finds out the hard way that Seb’s not ready for a relationship after his recent divorce. And Jatila Kan, their engineer, discovers her feelings for North aren’t returned—because her lover’s pining after another man.

Not the best situation for a crew starting a three-week run across the galaxy.

But there are bigger terrors in space than their messy love triangle. A ruthless, horrifying enemy stands ready to test them to their physical and emotional limits.

Failure means certain death not only to themselves and their passengers, but to the entire planetary alliance.

Warning: This title contains explicit sex, a messy love triangle, sniping, bad language and ravening space monsters.

Review:
Interstitial takes the reader to a lot of places.  At first your entangled in a love triangle: a heartbroken spouse who has gone through a not-so-ugly divorce, a bitter, rejected lover, and a young man trying to juggle the emotions of an ex-lover while being in love himself.  As soon  as you’ve settled down and begin to get comfortable with the situation the author switches gears, keeping it interesting. Once the Karhal came into the picture I sped through the reading of this book like white-lightning. It’s like one of the good science fiction movies you come across from time to time, where you never know what’s around the corner. The snippy scenes at the beginning of the book and the unrequited romance was a little frustrating at first, but the author pulled it together in the end. Interstitial certainly packs a punch. Hey, I’m still seeing stars.

Four Delightful Divas

Warnings: Contains graphic m/m sexual contact between consenting adults, language, and violence.

History repeats itself in the small Mississippi River town of
Bauman Creek when two star-crossed lovers met their end during one of the
darkest times in the history of the United States. Over a century later,
six academics arrive at the site of their demise, Evans House, a haunted
place, to oversee an inheritance passed to the State of Illinois by the
last of the Evans family. Three of those people, Tristan Pryce, Catherine
Mullin, and Jake Bauman will come face to face with the secrets of this
place in a way they never imagined. Secrets can never be buried deep
enough though and amidst its dark halls, the shadows seem to whisper.

Marcus Havers, a seasoned homicide investigator with the Illinois State
Police, finds himself also drawn into the shadows. Called in to
investigate the violence unleashed within its walls, he discovers that
science cannot always explain everything and gradually, these strangers
are pulled deeper into a nightmare, one that some may not escape.

Amidst the darkness, the attraction between Tristan and Jake grows, one
that may save or destroy both of them. Together they must face the
darkness, survive a nightmare unleashed, and discover what lies hidden in
the shadows if they are to survive.

They know you are here and they will not rest. Not until they receive what
they desire. Be afraid of the shadows…

My Review:
    Shadows Beneath is a very engaging novel.  The main characters, Tristan and Jake, are beautifully realized: unique, appealing, and flawed enough to be relatable.  Their relationship develops in a realistically paced way that gives the reader time to get to know and like them.  Tristan, while physically attracted to Jake, finds Jake a bit too eccentric to trust at first.  Jake’s religious beliefs and troubled past cause Tristan to proceed slowly.  When the characters can no longer fight their desires, though, the love scenes between them are quite well done, a perfect blending of erotic detail and very believable love and commitment.
    Likewise, the author has taken the time to imbue the secondary characters with as much detail and life as the primary couple.  The people inhabiting Evans House all have very distinct and authentic motivations and personalities.  Many of the characters have endearing quirks.  There are a fair amount of people who come and go throughout the course of the novel, and I honestly found even the most insignificant of them to be very nicely fleshed out.
    The plot of the book, while containing some recycled material, is fast paced and full of enough new twists to keep it unpredictable and compelling.  In some ways Shadows Beneath is a classic ghost story, but it also contains some very original and surprising elements.  The action begins early on and builds to a crescendo as the novel races toward the end.  It is a credit to the skill of the author that, with so many plot twists and so much happening, often all at once, the story is never confusing.  My only real criticism of this book is that some of the coincidences that drive the plot felt a little too unlikely.  I was not, however, distracted enough by these few stretches that my enjoyment of the story was diminished.  The conclusion of Shadows Beneath was very satisfying in that all of the victories experienced by the characters are tainted by tragedy.  One is left with a sense of how precious friendship, family, life and love are, and how quickly they can be lost.
    I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark paranormal romance, and especially to those readers who enjoy Gothic romance like the old Dark Shadows television show.  The author has a very poetic style.  Some of the imagery in the book is absolutely breathtaking.  And of course, the hot m/m sex scenes are a definite bonus!  I hope I have not seen the last of Tristan and Jake, and I’ll be looking forward to Jesse Fox’s next offering.

4.5 Delightful Divas 

 Lucas Taylor is a hard-working New York City fireman at Station 127, dedicated to his job, even though it has brought him heartrending tragedy - the loss of his lover, Ryan, in an explosion a year ago.

Evan Singer is the new guy in town, a paramedic transferred into Station 127 from San Antonio, and he sets his eyes on Lucas from the get-go.

Neither knowing who the other is, their first meeting is explosive, a night of passion and desire that awakens something inside Lucas he never thought he’d feel again.

But when Lucas discovers that Evan is a paramedic, it all comes crashing down. For despite the feelings he has for Evan, Lucas has vowed to never again get involved with someone on the job, after losing Ryan to it.

Can Evan convince Lucas to open up his heart and take a chance on love again, despite who Evan is?

Review:
Lucas is in a bar one Saturday night, drinking heavily when Evan, a hot, hunky guy gives him the eye. In an effort to stave off the depression he has felt since the death of his lover Ryan, Lucas goes home with Evan. After a night of scorching sex, Lucas, tormented over the feeling that he has cheated on his dead lover, vows never to see Evan again...except there is something there between these two men and the next day, Lucas calls Evan. Both Texan born, the two men chat easily, recognizing many similarities in upbringing and outlooks on life.

Evan agrees to take things slow since it's obvious that Lucas is recovering from the loss of his lover.
Lucas's new shot at love however quickly crashes and burns on his first day back at work as a New York fireman. He is introduced to Station 127's new paramedic...Evan. Lucas dumps Evan immediately, telling him they cannot be together. Ryan was a fireman and his death on the job continues to haunt Lucas. He will not allow himself to love again...or can Evan prove that sometimes love on the job is just what a hungry heart requires?
Jamie Lynn Miller blends blistering M/M sex scenes with a truly tender love story that is emotional and real. The firehouse scenes and three action-packed, edge of your seat incidents Station 127 handles are just amazing. Miller writes these scenes as deftly as she does the often emotionally bruising love scenes in which Lucas struggles with the idea opening his heart once again.
Considering that all this is stuffed into sixty pages is staggering. Lucas and Evan come across as wonderful men and the interaction with the secondary characters is convincing and compelling.
This reviewer is burning for the next Jamie Lynn Miller book.

 

 It seemed like a good idea at the time… Ever done something that seemed like a bright idea at the time and lived to tell the tale? That's the idea behind Another Fine Mess. Editor Syd McGinley has gathered ten stories from some of Torquere's favorite authors to prove that everyone has bad days, where getting into a mess is far easier than getting out of one.
Whether they like to get into trouble or ride to the rescue, the boys of Another Fine Mess will leave you wanting more. Featuring authors Lee Benoit, Cassidy Ryan and Laney Cairo, these stories will make you wonder how the guys will ever get out of the messes they make, and thrill you when they do!
List of Stories:
Dragonwalker by Lee Benoit
Blood Rubies by Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks
Hunter’s Kiss by Margaret Leigh
Finding Trouble by Misa Izanaki
Magenta by Camilla Bruce
Unfinished Business by Laney Cairo
The Alpha Bet by Cassidy Ryan
Unravel by Mychael Black
A Jolly Good Idea by Syd McGinley
Bruised Knuckles and Bars by Julia Talbot

Reviewer: Sage Whistler

 Overall rating: Recommended Read( 5 Delightful Divas)

  



Dragonwalker
By Lee Benoit
Dragon and dog are two words I never would have associated with each other, but the author manages to pull it off smoothly. Dragonwalker is a prime example of imagination at its best. Though brief, I enjoyed the main characters. Endi was a likeable, well rounded person, and it was joy to see the world through his eyes. The Chief’s strong/wise character was a good match to the innocents Endi harbored, which bordered on being painfully naïve. This short read is definitely a gem.
4 Delightful Divas


Blood Rubies
By Angela Sparrow and Naomi Brooks
I love to see authors spread out and integrate all manner of cultures in their writing. The main character of Blood rubies is a Moroccan, young man named Samir. I found his character to be sweet and charming, and his limited use of the English language endearing. The story was a delightful surprise, and the ending was very satisfying.
5 Delightful Divas


Hunter’s Kiss
By Margaret Leigh
Wow! This story starts off with a bang, and doesn’t let up until the end. The story was fast paced, and packed with action. You really get a sense of the emotions of the characters. It’s dark and gripping, and all I kept thinking was that the character’s motivations could have been summed up in one word, desperation.
5 Delightful Divas


Finding Trouble
By Misa Izanaki
Dante’s personality proved to be as adorable as his looks in this enjoyable, short read. Horns, cat tails, and vampires! What’s not to like? The premise is slightly recycled, but the twist in the middle was a nice touch. I think readers will appreciate this as a light read, but those as spoiled as I am by vivid description might be a tad disappointed with the love scenes featured therein. However, it did not detract from the story, and was not necessarily needed.
4.5 Delightful Divas


Magenta: The Romance of the Scarlet and the Red
By Camilla Bruce
Another Fine Mess, indeed! Ms. Bruce has a knack for words and poetry fine writing. The descriptions were stellar, the interactions between Red and Scarlet sizzling, and the plot was fun. This was definitely my favorite story, and I look forward to more works from this talented author.
5 Delightful Divas


Undercover Business: An Undercover Blues Story
By Lane Cairo    
It took me a few minutes of reading Undercover Business to realize I knew the characters. I had purchased and read Undercover Blues some time ago, and I was happy to have this brief interlude into the lives of Jason and Ryan again. This installment created a somber mood, which was missing in the other stories. There was also a hard edged, gritty undertone to this story that made it seem more like nonfiction. All around it was an engrossing read.
4.5 Delightful Divas

The Alpha Bet
By Cassidy Ryan
This anthology is so diverse, and here we have the budding relationship of a Sub and Dom. Though Grey and West have been together for a few years, this is the first time they explore their true nature with each other. The story was very engaging, and although it was one of the shortest, the author did an excellent job portraying just how much the main characters care for each other. This story is just how I like my beef, well done.
4.5 Delightful Divas

Unravel
By Mychael Black
Unravel was hot enough to put my monitor in meltdown. The action between Dan and Philip kick off from the first page and then snowballs from there. The title really suits the story because Dan surely knows how to unravel his Philip. Here we get to see what happens when work interferes with relationships, and the way these guys solve it…well, it works for me.
5 Delightful Divas

A Jolly Good Idea
By Syd McGinley
Here we are introduced to a baron and his submissive partner, Ryan. The story is told through Ryan’s eyes and the reader follows him and his love on their vacation to London where they meet the baron’s (Hugh) family. The writer portrays Ryan’s feelings so well that the reader shares in them:  his awkwardness when meeting his lover’s family, his frustration with his limited intimacy concerning Hugh, and his dejection when he feels like an outcast in Hugh’s family. One thing I thought was missing was a spark between the two characters. Although I adored Ryan, I couldn’t help but find the baron a tad bit selfish and arrogant. In most instances the affection came off as one-sided. Nevertheless, I read the story straight through, and was probably just as relieved about how the story ended as Ryan was.
4 Delightful Divas

Bruised Knuckles and Bars
By Julia Talbot
There is something to be said for good humor. And this short read is chock full of it. This story managed to pull a left turn every time I thought we were going right. I thought at first that Eli would pick Ross and Jed up from the jail, but I was wrong. Then I thought surely the second phone call would do the trick. Wrong again. It never even entered my mind that they would get out themselves. I was right about one thing though; even cowboys getting up there in their years still know how to keep things interesting. Ms. Talbot’s knack for weaving genuine and loveable characters with vibrant personalities clearly shines through in this terrific tale.
5 Delightful Divas

Warnings: violence, explicit m/m sex
Summary: Leon has always been proud of his detachment, his ability to get the job done efficiently and with a minimum of fuss. After all, he's a hired killer. He can't afford to get emotional. When his lover is brutally murdered, however, everything Leon has ever been sure about flies out the window. All he can think about is revenge, and he gets it, but it sends him on a downward spiral of drunken depression and his employers are beginning to think him a lost cause. In a last ditch effort to save him from himself, they send him north to an isolated haven where he can collect himself or face the consequences of losing his job, which in his line of work, means only one thing. What Leon finds in the lonely northern forests changes his life forever. In sad, frightened Grim, Leon finds his own redemption and perhaps the one thing that can save his life; love. Getting Grim to trust him, however, is going to take more willpower and careful planning than Leon has ever needed before, and he's long past the time when he can remain detached. After all the lives he's taken, he never imagined giving someone back his life could be so much more difficult.

My review: Once again, I seem to have been drawn to a book whose first chapter is all about murder and mayhem, and I'm
Damaged characters are definitely the flavour of the day here. Leon is almost normal compared to his love interest Grim. Abandoned, abused and alone in the world, he has no idea what a normal relationship is supposed to look like. He does know a chance to bring some companionship into his isolated life when he sees it, though, and fishes Leon out of the river after a bear attack, takes him back to his cabin and nurses him back to health.
The plot might not be grippingly original, but it never stops its forward momentum, throwing the two men into conflict after conflict with themselves, one another and the world, and finally bringing them back to confront their own demons again. Even with the linear progression of events I found enough strength of character in just two characters (There are no secondary characters to speak of) to keep me happy and interested right to the end.
There was plenty of sex too, which can often backfire, but in this case was dealt with beautifully. It is disturbing to think that a person can define his relationship to the world and everyone in it through his ability to please them sexually, but I did say Grim was damaged in the extreme. Ally handles the tricky, sticky mess that could become with care, and the sex scenes manage to be about more than the physical act while still conveying a perfect amount of heat. Almost, sex is another language, and one Grim knows fluently, in fact, one he prefers to communicate through, and I think it's interesting how the author used those scenes to track the character's growth and the growth of the relationship. I'm not for a second commenting on the practicality of the real-life applications of this kind of sex therapy, but this is fiction and as such, the attempt succeeded brilliantly.
As always, my main criteria for what constitutes 'good' fiction is less technical than some people's and more about my own emotional satisfaction. Yes, that's right, it's all about me, my reading time, and how I want to spend it. Once again, Ally has made me very happy to waste a few hours of my time with her people and her world. Thanks.
My recommendation: You have to appreciate dark and damaged souls with a nugget of gold in the center to appreciate this story, and not be squeamish about nasty deaths or less than perfect sex. If that's the case, there is a lot to enjoy here. Read it.  expected to actually like the guy doing the deed. Ally has managed, though, to set up her cold, calculating hired killer in a sympathetic light right from the get go, and it's hard not to at least feel sorry for him long enough to get to know him. Once inside Leon' head, it's hard not to like him as damaged as he is.

4 Delightful Divas

 Mercykill is about a Japanese heavy metal band (aka visual kei in Japan) whose members wind up in a situation they never would have considered possible. Without giving any spoilers for book two, which isn't out yet, I can say this about the first book, Shattered Melody Mercykill is on their way to fame as the newest visual kei band to hit the big time in Japan. But from the heights of fame to the depths of crushing sorrow takes but an instant. Can the band recover from senseless tragedy and salvage their lives from the ashes of despair?

Review:
Mercykill: Shattered Melody was a roller coaster ride of intense emotions. Mr. Barnette manages to weave a story that is both an edge of your seat thriller and a sensual masterpiece. This story packs a punch; evoking sympathy, anger, and joy in every page. You know a story has engulfed your entire psyche when you're talking to the characters. I fell in love with Takeshi, Akira, and Juro and I hope to read more about these characters in the future. I am definitely a fan of Mercykill.
Five Delightful Divas

James Ligatos is a man with an unusual hobby. He turns promising young criminals into world leaders. His latest project is Nicholas Boyd, formerly Nikolai of the Revenant street gang. But the little killer-turned-file-clerk is much more than Ligatos and his staff bargained for. As Kentucky attempts to secede from the Confederated States of America and rejoin the United States, Nick's skills and the group's training are put to the ultimate test, and the price of failure is death.

Review: 

Nicolai's career as a prominent gang leader ends with his nineteenth birthday and his business life begins. When the Revenants approach him for one last job, he takes it even though getting caught will mean prison, probably for life. After all, just being himself could get him jailed in this frightening future reality. Unfortunately, Nick does get caught, and if he thought his life as a gang member was an exciting bit of living on the edge, he's in for a shock. His new benefactor has much higher expectations of him. The question is, can Nick curb his tongue long enough to figure out what his new Boss really wants with him?

Okay, folks. If you thought it was impossible to include every possible permutation of bedroom antics in one book, Angelia Sparrow is about to prove you wrong. And if you thought you'd never be able to root for a thief and a murderer, think again. Nicolai might not be an angel, but it's tough not to like him anyway. Just about everyone who meets him certainly manages to get along with him; or, at least, get it on with him. No matter what your taste, this book has it all; male on male, het, masters, slaves, lovers, the whole nine yards. And a plot, to boot. You know when there's theft, sex and murder in the first chapter you're in for a ride, and Miss Sparrow certainly doesn't disappoint on that front.

If I have one complaint, it is that the background politics are underdeveloped, but who wants to read about politics when there's so much bed hopping going on? Though this book does sport a plot into which all that sex fits, it serves mostly as backdrop for what's really going on. And what's really going on is the creation of a power dynamic at least as complex as the politics the characters have to deal with, only this play is a heck of a lot hotter.

I give this book four delightful divas for the sheer audacity of the author in throwing all that variety in there without throwing me out of the story. Good work.

On the Island of O'ahu, vacationing Toshi meets the Speedo-clad Kristopher, a stunning Hawaiian medical student who sometimes needs "to be a little less" than his serious life affords him to be.  As the two embark upon a game throughout the streets of Waikiki, Toshi learns that sometimes he needs to be "something more" than he has let himself be.

Review:
Mahape a ale Wala 'au was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Some parts of the story read like fine poetry, and I was so enthralled by this gem of a story that I didn't realize I was on the last page until I read the last sentence. The author did an exceptional job with making me feel, as a reader, as if I were there with Toshi; viewing the landscape, and socializing with the people. The emotional depth and the sensual aspect of Mahape a ale Wala 'au was so well blended that it fairly steamed my computer in more ways then one. I definitely recommend this story, and I look forward to reading more works from Mr. Bens. Five Delightful Divas

Click here to return to the review page