Genre – Contemporary or similar

The book begins with a touching dedication to all the victims of September 11, 2001. Then the introduction is the announcement of Jacob Evans passing. The rest of the book is a series of short stories about Jacob Evans and his family.

In each one of the thirty-eight stories include a different facet of Jacob Evans life. Some of the stories in the book are things that happen in the life of a family member.

He has stories about his marriage, his children and so on. The book basically chronicles his life from beginning to end. We begin with Jacob’s birth and his feelings about that to other areas of his life.

Personally I found quite a few of the stories very touching. One or two almost brought tears to my eyes. Through this book you will get to know Jacob, his wife, children and the trials they all have had to live through. You will see how Jacob has grown from a young boy into a man. How he deals with his children and how his children deal with life’s trials and tribulations.

Though you may not always like Jacob or his family members you will always get an insight to them. I was able to feel what Jacob and his family felt. This author was very realistic in his writing. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to anyone wishing a good read.

ELLORA’S CAVE
2001

Genre - Romantic Suspense

Rod Casteel begins his book with a tribute to those who lost their lives in Beirut. This book is about the trials one woman went through before and after her marriage to a U.S. Marine sent to fight in Beirut.

Rose Ann Shawnassy is pregnant and in love with a U.S. Marine. Since he is being ordered to Beirut, Lebanon they decide to make the baby legit by getting married in front of the Justice Of The Peace. Rose couldn’t be happier. She’s in love, married going to have a baby, all is well with the world. Well it would be if her husband wasn’t being shipped off to war. And if she didn’t now have to eventually tell the man who along with his wife took her in off the streets. How is she going to explain that she ran off and got married without him giving her away?

Right after her husband is swept off to war Rose thinks that is the only problem she has to face. Little does she know it’s nothing compared to what will follow. For a short time after the issue of explaining to retired Gunny Sergeant Sylvester O’Toul that she was married without him was over, life returned to normal. Well as normal as it can be. Until one day Rose gets the news her husband died in a bombing. Life from that day forward is changed.

If things aren’t complicated and painful enough, Mark Grady’s brother comes to town expecting to confront the gold digger that married his brother for his money. Although he expects to find a gold-digger what he finds is totally different. Dennis Grady finds a woman who was totally in love with her husband and is nothing like what he had pictured. What Dennis Grady also finds is a woman that he is drawn to like none other. Only this is his brother’s widow and he can’t give in to his feelings, can he? It’d be a betrayal to his brother’s memory, wouldn’t it?

Then if life hasn’t becoming even harder the man that was the reason Rose had lived on the streets shows up. Rose’s father sees the news report about Rose and her husband’s death and shows up in order to cash in on his daughter. First off he wants money and second he wants to continue the abuse he had dealt out in the past. If not for Dennis that abuse may have happened. Dennis not only stepped in but he appointed himself Rose’s protector.

This doesn’t deter Rose’s father, it only adds fuel to the fire. More complications step in when the FBI and CIA show up looking for Rose’s dad. From there the action never stops. There are many issues that arise with the FBI man that shows up. Like who is he really to Rose? What is the secret that makes Rose’s father so hateful towards her? What will he do now that he his plan for money has been rebuffed? What does the FBI and the CIA have to do with all of this?

With all this combined it makes for a great book. I personally loved this story. It had a bit of everything. Romance, intrigue and action, there is something for everyone.

ELLORA’S CAVE
2001

Genre - Erotic

This is an erotic book with a delightful twist.

Tory has had a hard time with men lately. One night she says something to a friend that changes her life possibly forever. While out with her friend Tory is grumbling about men and wishing they were on another planet. Well it seems she may have just gotten her wish.

Tory is drugged, kidnapped and taken to another planet. This is a planet where men and women don’t associate anymore then necessary, if ever. While the women of the planet think they have done Tory a big favor, Tory doesn’t see it that way. All she knows is she is on a planet where women partner with women, men partner with men and anyone doing anything else are deviants.

Tory tries to settle into life as well as she can until she can come up with a way off the planet. One day while learning her new job in the semen collection bank Tory meets a man. This man is one she takes a strong liking too and he seems to take a liking to her also. Problem is where can they go to be together on a planet that the sexes don’t mix? Moreover what will they do if they are caught? Deviancy on this planet is a crime. The higher ups are already unhappy that she is even on the planet. Will Tory’s life be forfeit for something she didn’t even ask for? Will she manage to partner up with her love? Will she ever get back to earth?

I totally enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the other two to the trilogy. I think the only thing I could say bad about this story is it wasn't long enough.

LIGHTHOUSE PRESS, INC.

Genre - Mystery

This is basically a whodunit with a bit of romance and intrigue thrown in.

Tyler Richmond came to Stonewater College for a new start, a new job, a new life, a new place. All this looks pretty promising until one of his students Molly asked him to help her. Molly’s roommate has been acting funny. She disappears every weekend, she’s become withdrawn and generally isn’t the person Molly knew.

After much reluctance Tyler agrees and follows Heather one Friday night. He finds more than he bargains for. Heather has been working in a strip club, and by all indications it’s not willingly. It seems there are a lot of girls at the club that don’t look like they belong. Tyler is found out, he is beaten up and almost killed by the bouncer of the club. While all this is happening Heather disappears.

Heather’s body is found and from there the investigation begins. Tyler is left recuperating on a farm with some very nice Mennonite people. When all this hits the papers Tyler’s job is threatened, he is left with unanswered questions and a girl is still dead. No one has any idea why she is dead or what she was doing in the club. Evidently there is much more to this story than has come to light so far.

When Deputy Diane O’Malley is assigned to the case. There is an attraction between her and Tyler from the beginning. For the sake of the investigation Diane and Tyler do not give in instantly. From there the investigation progresses. The killers are caught, but they leave even more questions. Like why was Heather working at the club? Who was behind what is happening? Why did so many girls leave the college abruptly? Many questions are answered and more arise. Rather then risk giving to much away I will stop here.

This book was able to grab and keep my attention to the end. I enjoyed it very much.

Genre - Medieval

I found this story very delightful and compelling. I enjoyed it very much. It had a lot of feeling to it as well as a compelling story line. This is a very enjoyable medieval romance, it’s action packed, fun filled and definitely worth the read.

I was very delighted to see a strong female that wasn’t willing to settle for what others told her. The heroine was able to survive with her integrity through many different trials and tribulations. Including her mother’s kidnapping and the future others had planned for her just to name a few.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing a good read. As there is already one review of this book on our site I will refrain from telling much of the story at the risk of telling the whole thing between the two reviews.

Genre – Erotic Vampire

This is a collection of stories about three vampires living in Texas. Don Rafael Perez, Ethan Templeton and Jean Marie St. Just are three of the most erotic vampires I have read about in some time.

The book begins with Don Rafael teaching Ethan the proper way to feed and give his prey satisfaction at the same time. One story dealt with Ethan and a prostitute. Each story wound it’s way from the past to more current times.

Each and every story is unique unto itself. Each can hold it’s own and is not dependant upon one of the others. However is you should miss even one of these stories you will miss a lot. I found each and every one a bit different in it’s telling and the erotic content.

Ms. Whiteside gave me the pleasure of reading two of her stories quite some time prior to their being published. Even though I had some idea of her writing I was still pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed each and every story. This book was very erotic, I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Genre – Vampire & Shapeshifter

This is book six of the series. In this story we become reacquainted with Sinjin. During this book we get to see what he has been doing since the death of his one time lover and best friend Bliss.

After Bliss’ death Sinjin moved to New Orleans and sets himself up as owner and manager of a nightclub. Of recent Sinjinn’s thoughts have been on a beautiful woman that has been eating at the club every night for over a week. One night he decides to talk to her and meet her. Maybe he will add her to his constantly growing list of flings. However, from that night on things are not quite the same for Sinjin. For that matter they aren’t quite the same for Vivian Carrington the woman in the bar either. From the time they met there was a mutual attraction neither could deny.

Though as for Vivian she was definitely trying. She was determined not to let this lothario bed her just like that. That’s the kind of thing she had come to New Orleans to get away from. Her old life and her hold ways, which meant not bedding men she barely knew. However well meant this new resolve was it wasn’t an easy one. Vivian Carrington is a woman with a lot of money but no sense of herself. This is the reason she’s in New Orleans to find herself. While finding herself she finds much more then she bargained for, but then again the so does Sinjin.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. I personally loved it. From Vivian’s finding out we share the earth with more than just humans, to Sinjin finding out he can love again. Just some of the twists involve a werewolf, the vampires that are seeking the diary of Elsbeth and someone out to kill Vivian. My only problem with this book and story is it is way to short. However, this is always my problem with this authors books, I always want more.

Genre – Shapeshifter

This is a book of two stories, one by each author. The first story FLY WITH A DRAGON by Rosemary Laurey is very unique. It is about a woman sacrificed to a dragon by her father and brother. However, this dragon is not all he seems. Evidently he’s been blamed for killings in the village that weren’t of his doing. In addition the deaths of the other sacrifices weren’t exactly his fault either.

This woman finds all this out bit by bit as he flies away with her instead of killing her. I enjoyed this story very much. I felt it was unique in a variety of ways. This is the first interspecies story I have read with a dragon. This author was able to make the story unique and erotic all in one.

I found a few details that weren’t explained well however, that may have been due to the shortness of the story. I also felt the ending left me hanging slightly. Or, maybe that was the authors’ intention. Could it be that there is a full book coming? I personally hope so.

HEART OF THE RAVEN By J.C. Wilder is the second story to this book. Dani is a young woman living a life no woman should. She must live the life of a traveler with an abusive father that keeps her in chains. The only reason Danis’ father keeps her is to prepare the meals for himself and his brother. Danis’ sister was sold years before to someone.

Danis’ father and uncle make a living from getting people drunk and stealing all they have. It seems this night Danis’ uncle and father have finally met their match. Two strangers ride up and ask to join them at the fire, Danis’ father and uncle seize the opportunity to swindle the strangers. However, as I said they have finally met their match. In the end they must give up Dani as payment for their losses. Thus Dani is sold into slavery.

Dani is forced to ride off with the strangers and to a life like she never imagined. Many things happen to Dani, with these strangers. Like finding out the man who won her is the overseer of a large castle and city. Dani also finds a life she never could have imagined for herself. However, she has no idea what this man wants of her. What she does know is that she is falling in love with this stranger. However, the stranger with has a secret like no other, one that could tear their tentative relationship apart. There is much more than this that happens in the story that I don’t want to give away.

All I will say is that you need to read this book. I think both stories have a unique perspective on shapeshifters and love.

ELLORAS CAVE
2001

Genre – Vampire, Witch, Shapeshifter, Erotica

This book is compiled of three very good and erotic stories. The basics of the book are three friends go to a Halloween party and find much more than they expected. Each story is about one of these friends. Sometime during the night each woman meets and old witch who gives them some insight into their future.

Nancy is a spinster that goes intending to find a lover. By the end of the book she does just that. Only her lover is not what or even where she would expect. Her love is a Gargoyle and not of this planet.

I found the thought of a Gargoyle lover very different. This is not what you normally find in a shapeshifter story or book. I would love to see much more as I myself have always had a bit of a fascination with gargoyles.

Erica meets a man dressed up as Count Dracula at the party and is instantly attracted to him. He is nothing like her most recent ex-lover. Little does Erica know this vampire is for real and just what all comes along with falling in love with a vampire. I have always been a fan of vampire fiction. Since I am a collector of vampire fiction this will be a delightful addition to my collection.

Janna the last of the three friends must leave the party early to meet with a client. Janna has no idea what she is walking into. To begin with the client meets her at the door with a huge kiss, then begs her pardon saying he thought she was someone else. This is just the beginning of what Janna will soon find out is one of the weirdest nights in her life.
Come to find out this client has a curse on his family and is trying to make up for deeds done to her ancestors by his. The making up of past deeds makes for one very interesting story.

While I loved all these stories, I enjoyed the one about the Gargoyle the most for its’ uniqueness.

2002
Genre - Action Romance

I found this to be a very touching story. I actually didn’t expect to like it. This is not my normal genre of reading. However, it is a must read.

An American man goes to the Himalayan’s hoping to find inner peace. What he finds is turmoil, plots and danger. When a woman attacks John Pearson knocks him unconscious and leaves him for dead all life, as he knows it changes.

John becomes immersed in a life he never expected. Not only does he run into this woman again, but he ends up saving her life. By doing this he becomes a fugitive from the Chinese government. This woman over time and with the help of other who translate relates a story to John so important he has no choice but to help her. During this time John travels with this woman whom he finds out is a Tibetin.

It seems the Panchen Lama’s mind is being perverted and twisted by the Chinese. John and the woman must find the Dali Lama in order to let him and the rest of the world know what is happening. There are many who help and many who hinder this mission. Mostly it is dangerous for all concerned. I found I was riveted to this book from beginning to end. I have never read much about Tibet or the problems they have dealt with in China before, but this book may change all of that.

Lovespell
2002

genre - werewolf

Jason Donovan is a man alone, he belongs nowhere and with no one. Jason is a man on a mission with no idea of how to complete it. Jason Donovan was a normal man up until three years ago when he and his brother went on a camping trip. Unlike other camping trips they had taken before this one was different. On this most recent trip both men were both attacked by a werewolf. The werewolf wounded them and subsequently changed them to werewolves as well.

Now Jason must roam the earth with his curse trying to find the one that turned them and kill it. With this he hopes to break the curse on his brother and himself. One night Jason is attacked by another werewolf and saved by a strange Indian woman. The next thing Jason knows he is a captive of this same woman. For Jason this is where life for him takes another twist. Evidently this woman is from a tribe of Indians that have kept themselves hidden away from the outside world for hundreds of years.

The woman who helped Jason turns out to be the tribes most valued being. The woman is the tribes’ protector, the woman hunts werewolves and kills them.
From here many things happen, some good some bad. Many questions are raised and many answered. Some of which are will Jason live or will be killed? Why did this strange Indian woman save Jason, a being she is sworn to kill? Will Jason ever find the one who changed him? What does the Indian woman have to do with his past and future? What is to become of this dying Indian tribe?

I found this shapeshifter book to be a refreshing change, it is not the typical stereotype story. While many of the normal werewolf beliefs are seen in the book it has a unique perspective. I found that I enjoyed reading this book very much. This book is highly recommended.