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Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author/publisher to The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Apr 20, 2011

The Lancaster Rule by T.K. Toppin


The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: The Lancaster Rule
Author: T. K. Toppin 
Buy Link  
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Romance/Time Travel/Science Fiction/Military Sci Fi/Political Sci Fi
Length: 380 pgs.
Reviewed by: C. LaForce

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 4
Presentation: 5
Editing: 2
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 2

Overall Card Rating: 
                                                
About The Book:
The world loathes Josie Bettencourt's kind – pod-survivors from the past. When death is certain, an ex-military and friend to the pod-hunters, saves her life. Unfortunately, she is soon arrested and taken straight to the Citadel, the heart of the Lancaster regime where they have ruled tyrannically for over fifty years.

Now, young John is in power, hoping to make a change, to erase the wars, famines and unimaginable terror. When Josie meets the frighteningly powerful John Lancaster, she has to ask, is he really the so-called tyrants' spawn?

She soon discovers who the true tyrants are by unraveling a deadly plot to take over the world.

The Review:
When I read the excerpt I thought this story might be right up my alley of interest, and I was correct in that assumption! The Lancaster Rule is a tale of romance, friendship, and family loyalty told in the setting of a very believable future Earth. To make it even more exciting there is political intrigue and a revolutionary militia spilt by factions with differing ideals, all bent on overthrowing the regime. There are tales from the government’s point of view with insider perspectives of counter-terrorist operations. There’s love, family, religious fanatics, more love, chaos, confusion, changing loyalties, and uncertainty as characters struggle to figure out just who to trust, and who to demonize. There’s a whole pile of exciting hand-to-hand combat and bombs going off every which way too. It’s a wonderful plot, and the settings in which the story takes place are vividly portrayed.

From the author’s notes, I see that T.K. Toppin is a relatively new author. I want to congratulate her here and wish her luck on her endeavors! To be honest with this review though, I must say that this book was often difficult for me to read. It was almost as if I were reading an old silent film in which characters stop and pose dramatically every few steps, for a few seconds too long each time, and wildly exaggerate their facial expressions in order to ensure the audience gets the message intended. It bothered me, but the story pulled me along anyway, and I kept reading.

At times I felt as if three or four people were writing this book. Sections jumped suddenly from 1st person to 3rd person voice. The main character’s personality flickered as well… in one scene Josie would be the helpless, fragile heroine, swooning in abject fear and uselessness, her written voice coming across as that of a flustered and lost teenager. The tone of the next chapter would morph inexplicably and I’d be reading her thoughts as if from a memoir written by a much older, more mature version of the character, years after the fact and emotionally disconnected. Then it might jump to a secondary character’s point of view, which might also be as emotionless as a narrator of a dry text on ancient economic comparisons, or overly emotional, with teeth gnashing and white knuckles. I don’t mind this sort of jumping about, but not when it makes me stop reading, flip back pages, and wonder what the heck I’d missed.

Speaking of teeth gnashing, the guys in this book did a lot of that. There was much brooding, pacing, smacking tables, kicking chairs and scads of glaring about darkly. The main character, Josie, was a weak and helpless twit for most of the book, which is not my favorite flavor of heroine, but I suppose there might be something wrong with me as many readers apparently like that sort.  Look at the popularity of Bella in the Twilight series. Bella never managed to grow a backbone or the slightest speck of self-worth, while Josie eventually managed to find herself, albeit rather abruptly. She mutated from a useless waste of oxygen, whimpering on the floor and sucking her thumb, to a super powered ninja bitch, almost instantaneously, which, by the way, was rather awkward. I truly wish her character development had a chance to follow a more gradual and realistic arc. I was glad, and relieved, to see ninja bitch appear though, because if Josie had had yet one more hissy fit and hysterical meltdown, I would have put my e-book reader through the shredder in pure disgust. (I apologize, but I was unable to develop a sincere liking for Josie! Maybe in the second book of the series...?)

Ms. Toppin has the ability to paint brilliant detail with words, unfortunately, in this book, it got to be too much of a good thing for me. I’d find myself thinking that five descriptive phrases might suffice in places where the author had squished in twenty. Ms Toppin shows off her artistic expertise in describing the characters, and excepting Josie, I liked them all very much; the good, the bad, and those somewhere in between.  She also enabled me to clearly visualize the world in which the story took place. She has a skilled hand when it comes to throwing weaponry around, and in making all of the story technology as real as future tech from OUR reality might very well be, not pure fantasy plucked from make-believe alien lands.

I wish more ‘edges’ had been smoothed here. It’s an excellent story. It’s imaginative and engaging and I believe that this first novel is a wondrous precursor of what Ms. Toppin has to offer. As written I was not so happy with this book (the story, yes, the book, no) but I see potential in it. I’d read it again if it were polished up, and I’d even go out and watch a movie version of it as there were a number of parts that would make exciting scenes in an action flick! I see the potential for the series too. I’m keeping in mind the example of JK Rowling’s seventh book, which glowingly overshadowed her first, and I will be looking for Ms. Toppin’s name on the cover of future novels.

Pagan Elements: N/A

Indestructible by Kimber Chin



The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Indestructible
Author: Kimber Chin
Buy Link
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Romance
Length: 34 pgs.
Reviewed by: Gray Dixon

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 3.5
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:
                                                                
About The Book:
She was created to kill. He was trained to protect. They were born to love each other.

When Jack, Tavos Santos’ head of security, sees Renata, he knows she’s a threat. The blue-eyed Spanish beauty makes every nerve-ending tingle.
Now he has to figure out if the threat is to his Boss or to his heart.

The Review:
What an intriguing story. I found myself instantly drawn into this world created by Kimber Chin. Renata is an assassin but you’re not sure if she is on the good side, or bad, until halfway through. Then there's Jack. He's head of security for a wealthy man and his wife, and he has an eye on the newcomer to the house he guards. He doesn’t trust her, but he’s also attracted to her. In a few pages, the sexual tension between these two characters is ignited but can they get over the obstacles between them to find love?

I really liked this story but at times the head-hopping pulled me out of it to remember who was saying what. There were a few minor editing concerns, but overall I found this a very good read and well worth the small amount to pay for reading enjoyment. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Chin.

Pagan Elements: N/A

Kissing Cowboys by Eve Cassidy


The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Kissing Cowboys
Author:  Eve Cassidy
Buy Link
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: Erotic/Romance/Contemporary/Western-M/M
Length: 10 pgs.
Reviewed by: Gray Dixon

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 4.5
Story: 4.5
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating: 
                                          

About The Book: Giving up a night out on the town with the guys is an easy sacrifice, but JT is determined to find out one way or another if the sexual tension he senses in Jacob Cordero is all in his mind. Keeping secrets in a bunkhouse is almost impossible, especially when an accident on an unbroken horse lands him right where he wants to be…in Jacob’s bed.

The Review:
Whoa boy! Or should I say cowboy? For a quick ten pages, this erotic short story was hot, hot, hot! Immediately Eve Cassidy yanked my chain and pulled me into this little trist between two cowboys left alone in a bunkhouse had them sheets scorching and definitely made for a nice bedtime story.

The scene was set up perfectly, with one man injured and the other comforting him. The description Ms. Cassidy gives of J.T. as a stubborn, ‘I can tough out the pain’ attitude, contrasted against the almost nurturing response of Jacob had me cheering on these two boys. They maybe cowboys who love a good rodeo, but I think they also found a new event of their own. The sex, in a word, HOT!

I highly recommend this one and I hope Ms. Cassidy has plans for J.T. and Jacob. They make for a great couple and I would love to see more of these two on the rodeo circuit.


Pagan Elements: N/A

Apr 5, 2011

Bloodlines by Jessica Lee



The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Bloodlines
Author: Jessica Lee
Publisher: Breathless Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Length: 115 pages
Reviewed By: Madeline Smoot

Ratings For:
Cover: 4
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating: 
                                               

About the Book: 
Evin KinKaid, the only son of the KinKaid pack’s alpha, has a secret. One that will tear his family apart. In two years, Evin is to succeed his father as alpha leader and continue the dominate bloodline of his family. There’s only one problem: Evin is gay. When Evin is pushed into the bed of his intended female mate, he’s forced to reveal the truth. And for an alpha male wolf shifter promised to a female whose goal is to one day be queen…come out has never been more explosive.

Mason Thorne II, heir to Thorn Global Inc., life is a lie. To sustain his father’s love, Mason has agreed to stay in the family business and to one day assume his place as CEO. Instead of reaching for his heart’s desire, he’s settled for a life that’s not his own. But an unexpected auto accident will send both Evin and Mason into each other’s arms and down a path toward a destiny neither man can escape: an eternity sealed in blood.

The Review: 
Evin KinKaid is a man with a mountain of problems; an arranged marriage, being heir to his father’s pack, and being gay is making for an explosive mix. When he attempts to explain to his childhood friend and betrothed about his sexual orientation she immediately betrays him, which earns him banishment from the pack.

Mason Thorne II is the quintessential trust fund baby, complete with overpowering father. While bending to his father’s will when it comes to his education and his profession with the family business, he also mildly rebels by taking a vacation with his guitar. While on the way home from this holiday he crashes his car and finds his saving grace in the form of Evin KinKaid, mechanic/sex-on-a-stick.

This book is an absolute paranormal masterpiece that grabs you at the first word and refuses to let you go until the very end. The struggles that each of the men experience is both realistic and can be universal when it comes to the need to please. The multi-dimensional characters force the reader to fall in love with them and their struggle as they fall in love.

Along with being a moving love story, the sex scenes are deliciously naughty. The author builds each encounter to perfection making sure to include the pure love, lust, and emotions into every caress, culminating in an exquisite explosion. This is definitely a must read and a must re-read.


Pagan Elements: N/A

Reconstructing Meredith by Lauren Gallagher


The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Reconstructing Meredith
Author: Lauren Gallagher 
Buy Link
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance/ BDSM
Length: 231 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 5
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Score:
                             

The Book:
“Scott, I need your help.”
Five words from a woman he hasn’t seen in five years, and Scott Moore’s world is thrown off its axis. Ex-girlfriend Meredith has resurfaced with a past full of horrific abuse at the hands of a man who called himself a Dom, and she has the scars to prove it. Now she needs Scott’s help to reclaim her sexuality and put the past behind her.

Scott is more than willing to help, but he has no idea the toll it will take on him, not to mention his other polyamourous relationships. What’s more, while Scott and Meredith face down her demons, their own past won’t be forgotten. Neither will Scott’s feelings for Meredith…

The Review:
Having read Light Switch last time around, I had to dive right into Reconstructing Meredith if only to see what happened with Scott, Kristin, and Matt.  When reading the second book in a series, I think most people expect to read something with the same tone and a similar plot.  With Reconstructing Meredith, Gallagher blows that completely out of the water.

The incredible writing with the fast pace and layered plot was definitely there.  The riveting characters, who become real to the reader from the first page are there.  However, the tone of the novel is completely different.  Where Light Switch was a deep, emotionally-entangling read, it’s completely light-hearted when compared to the heavy issues Gallagher takes on. Now that she’s addressed many of the popular misconceptions about some BDSM relationships, she’s taking on what happens when an abusive person hides behind the “Dom” label.

This wasn’t an easy read.  Parts were hard to take, in large part because Scott is so affected by the abuse his ex-girlfriend, Meredith, suffered at the hands of her ex-husband.  His big heart—how many guys can carry on loving relationships with two or three women in a way that none of them are jealous of the other—leads him down the long road of helping Meredith recover sexually from the years of imprisonment and abuse she endured. That’s the hard part.  He has to help her heal, and of course he still loves her. The processes are long and messy, heart breaking and hope building. It’s always been difficult for me to read about abuse of any kind, and this was no different. Scott helped me get through it as much as he helped Meredith. That really says something about the talent and skill of an author when they can do that.

In a lot of ways, this is more the second part of Light Switch and less a sequel.  Threads left dangling are all neatly wrapped up at the end of Reconstructing Meredith. Scott and Meredith really worked for their happily-ever-after, and I was happy to see that Kristin and Matt got one, too. I’m not sure which two books I’m going to have to kick out of my top ten list in order to fit these in, but they’re up near the top.

Pagan Elements: N/A

Demons Love Cinnamon by Kate Richards


The Pagan & The Pen Book Revies

Title: Demons Love Cinnamon
Author: Kate Richards
Buy Link
Publisher: Breathless Press 
Genre: Paranormal/Erotic Romance
Length: 40 pgs.
Reviewed by: Rob's Wife

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 4
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating
                                                 

About The Book:
Archaic and powerful demon, Alessandro, knew never to disappoint his overlord, but Samhain night on Earth is a new experience for this red-hot guy. When a captivating scent leads him to a Halloween party, he finds Gwenny. The witch is everything he never even knew to dream of. The only problem is, he's due back in Hell in the morning with somebody’s soul…and it looks like it may be hers.

Unable to resist Alessandro's wicked allure, Gwenny doesn’t realize the danger she's in until their night of passion comes to an end. If Lucifer's demands are refused, will they both survive, or will Gwenny lose her heart and soul to her cinnamon-loving demon?

The Review:
Demons Love Cinnamon is a paranormal short story with a twist between a demon and a witch and I could not put it down. The storyline was well developed and flowed nicely at a pace that kept me turning the pages. The author's writing style was easy to read and I felt the emotion of the characters from scene to scene.

The only complaint I would have was that it ended way too soon as it was a very short read. I felt at times that the author seemed a bit rushed and could have fleshed out the story just a bit more, so the reader really had the time to get to know the characters a bit better. 

However, this small detail was not enough to keep me from devouring this story. I could not put this book down until I had finished and look forward to reading more by this author. Demons Love Cinnamon is in my keeper pile. It's a fantastic story by Kate Richards. 

Pagan Elements: Samhain Rituals

Black Hawke Down by Serenity Woods


The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Black Hawke Down
Author: Serenity Woods
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Erotic
Length: 38 pgs.
Reviewed By: Madeline Smoot

Ratings For:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating: 
                                                


About the Book: (Blurb taken from the book)
Nature witch, Captain Imogen Williamson, is on the run, blamed for a murder she didn’t commit, hunted by the Supernatural Unit of the British Army desperate to keep quiet the secret Imogen’s discovered. She knows it won’t be long before she’s found, but doesn’t suspect it will be Major Cameron Hawke—Iron Warlock and ex-lover—who’ll be the first to find her.

Hawke thinks she’s defected to Chaos and knows he’s got to put aside his feelings for her so he can complete his mission, but a moment of weakness makes him falter. Captured and restrained like an animal, he finds himself at Imogen’s mercy. He thinks it’s only his life at stake, but when Imogen tells him getting pregnant is her only way of staying alive—and he’s going to help her whether he likes it or not—he soon realizes that his self respect and dignity might be on the way out to…

The Review:
Imogen Williamson is a captain and nature witch attached to the Supernatural Unit in Britain’s Army. Falsely accused of murder and treason the head officer of her unit sends Major Cameron Hawke to assassinate her before she is able to tell her side of the story.

Major Cameron Hawke is a warlock and the best tracker in the Supernatural Unit; able to conjure and command metal he attempts to make Imogen pay for her supposed crimes and for breaking his heart, but instead finds himself tied to her bed and completely at her mercy.

The book is filled with naughty fun, but the love scenes feel a little rushed. Every moment between Cameron and Imogen is awash in sexual tension reeling the reader into every touch and caress. The emotion and anger felt by Cameron when he finds himself trussed up and forced to endure the erotic torture that Imogen dishes out makes my mouth water and itch to join in the fun. While too short for my liking and some of the scenes feel a bit rushed, this is definitely a book to read and enjoy. This author’s ability is remarkable, but there are a few points in her technique that could be tweaked to make her second to none.  

The cover is beautiful in a harsh sort of way. There is no way I would pass this book without picking it up and sneaking a peak at the story within. The cover grabs the attention and demands that its pages be explored. The harsh and dirty background gives it something extra that nips at the curiosity of the casual browser. The story grabbed me from the very first sentence and refused to let me go 'til the very end.

Pagan Elements: N/A