Kimberly Raye – Kiss me Once, Kiss me Twice

The first book in the Farrel Sisters series, published February 1, 2004.
Genre: sexy contemporary romance
Cover: cute



Kiss me Once
For Skye Farrel, sex is a business, and business is good. Her Girl Talk seminars are the talk of the town, with professional women jumping at the chance to learn the art of sexual fulfilment. But while she teachers her students how to heat up the sheets, her own love life is on ice.
Kiss me Twice
Enter Clint MacAllister, the six-foot plus, sexy NASCAR wunderkind, whose speedy lifestyle has left his relationship quotient in the dust. Not a good beginning for a man on the hunt for a wife. So Skye makes Clint a deal he can’t refuse: her sex tips in return for insight in the male mind. Each private lesson leaves Skye itching to test-drive him herself, but Clint is the marrying kind and she’s allergic to a trip down the aisle. Can Clint convince this liberated woman that the greatest race of all is the one for her heart?


Skye Farrel has her own successful business, giving sex talk to woman, teaching them about their own bodies and how to ensure their own pleasure and that of their partner. But she is lonely herself, somehow she can’t have a relationship for longer than a few months. Her mother is a famous womanist, with her own late night talkshow, where she teaches woman about their own value, that they don’t need a man in their life to look after, to be happy. Not even if the sex is great. And marriage? That is totally a man’s way to enslave a woman, and should be outlawed.
Her mother was mostly on the road, giving lectures about her books, and their professor father was doing research somewhere. Leaving Skye and her sisters raised by their grandmother in a small village.
Skye and her sisters have been indoctrinated by their mothers’ beliefs their whole lives, leaving them the odd girls out at school, and too independent. When her assistant Jenny proudly tells her she is getting married, and asks her to be the maid of honor, she doesn’t know how to refuse. She has never even been to a wedding before.
Skye is trying to resist her addiction to cookies, and her youngest sister is trying to stop smoking. Talking to their mother really does not help with those goals. She keeps reminding them that a daughter of her would never do this or that. They do love their mother, but it sure is tiring.
Skye has a fondness for “Barbie” shoes, but she was never even allowed to own a Barbie by her mother, and so she dresses sensibly and not sexy. Those shoes are invented by men to torture women with….

Being tasked to find the missing bridesmaid, Skye runs into Cliff MacAllister in one of the bathrooms. She used to dream of him as a teenager, when she had this big poster above her bed, of him dressed in his boxers and cowboy boots. And he sure has filled out nice and strong, and is now a famous NASCAR racecar driver. Only he gave up on racing a while ago after a minor accident, and is now the owner of his own team. He has re-evaluated his life, and he really wants a wife and kids of his own. Only the girl he proposed to, said no. Apparently, he was not all that hot in the bedroom. So Cliff is determined to get better, and so he makes a deal with Skye, while she is drunk on champagne and chocolate cake. She will teach him sex, and he will teach her what a real man likes. Meaning sports, and fishing, and such. To her own surprise, Skye likes watching sports, even up close.

Skye is very much attracted to Cliff, but as he told her he is almost engaged, she won’t go for it. She likes sex, but it does not mean she has had a lot of lovers, she is very picky, but the attraction between them is sizzling. And Cliff wants marriage, which is something she will never go for.

Skye tries to teach Cliff theory only, but as he is dyslexic, that does not really work for him. Also, he is very intrigued by all the items she has brought over for the lessons and totally throws her out of her game plan. Sharing stories of their past, and present, brings them closer together, and they start to really like each other. Which is so not what they want. A relationship between them will never work …


After reading the second book in this series a few weeks ago, I really wanted the other two books in this trilogy. To my disappointment, the books were extremely expensive, so I am happy I managed to find them secondhand. Or rather, my secondhand bookdealer Claudia did.

I enjoyed this one a lot as well. I like Skye, she is a modern woman, but she has a romantic streak, and I think Cliff will make her give in to that little by little. She is a girly girl who loves to wear dresses and frills and tiny antiques, while he is a real sports man and a man’s man. Still, they are great together. Cliff was told time and again that he would never amount to anything, but he sure proved them all wrong by becoming one of the best drivers in history. And now the press are on his back again, as if he would be afraid to drive anymore after his accident. He really doesn’t want to talk about it, he is truly ready to move on with his life, and when it is necessary, he does get behind the wheel and drive. I loved that part.

Two lonely but very nice people who find each other, but the story is fun, and well written, and I do love Kimberly’s sense of humor. Of course there are some naughty scenes, and some hot scenes, and some very sweet ones. I do like Skye’s interaction with her sisters, and am looking forward to reading the third book soon. I am curious about the gothic middle sister. And well, their father is intend of deepening his relationship with their mother after all those years of being semi-together, and I want to know how he will manage that. After all, it goes against everything she preaches.

8,5 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

ARC Review: Gini Koch – Alien in the House

The seventh book in the Katherine 'Kitty' Katt series, to be published May 7, 2013.
Genre: alien romance
Cover: Kick ass Kitty, loving it, even though it is different from the rest of the series.



Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini have learned the ins and outs of Washington politics, not to mention how to prevail in intergalactic war and foil dangerous plots. But, in the aftermath of Operation Destruction, the Gower girls’ power burned out, the entire A-C population has been “outed” as the aliens living on Earth that they are, and, worst of all, ACE is nowhere to be found.
Then murder and mayhem are served up at an important dinner party at the American Centaurion Embassy, and when the dust settles, Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have more problems than just a dead Congressman.
Is there a single criminal mastermind – or multiple enemies – behind all the conspiracies that want Kitty dead and the A-C’s gone of co-opted to become the War Division?
The return of the best assassins in the business, the reappearance of two individuals long-presumed dead, Agent Malcolm Buchanan felled by something no one can identify or cure, and new technology that can block even the most powerful empath on Earth … all this means the game’s officially afoot. Then Vance Beaumont comes to Kitty with a wild theory that someone is systematically killing off the House of Representatives …
It’s up to Kitty and the rest of the gang to find out what’s really going on and why. But will they be able to stop the killer or killers before the rest of he U.S. House of Representatives become casualties? And will the replacement Representative for New Mexico’s 2nd District, who happens to be Jeff Martini, be the next to die?


In the previous book, the Alpha Centaurians were outed to the Earthlings when they saved the earth from hostile invaders. Of course the population is divided, those who want them gone from Earth, and those who want to suppress them, to use them as soldiers and study them in a lab. Of course, there are also neutral people, but their voices are not heard.
Jeff Martini and his wife Kitty, to co-ambassadors for American Centauri (yes, they are all official US citizens, the government knew of their existence ever since they landed here) are busy learning the ropes and making friends and allies. They are hosting an important dinner, and are also busy with preparations for their daughter Jamie’s first birthday! Which is also a political event, instead of a family and friends affair. To Kitty’s dismay, they will have to invite the Cabal of Evil as well, and she really dislikes those people. But she will have to learn to smile and pretend to be nice, that is the life of a politician. It doesn’t matter that she did never want this job, and that she misses being in the heart of the action.
Jeff is a natural though, and he even enjoys following all the news and reading the boring reports and such.

That afternoon, the mailman returns with a new package for Kitty, and tells her he had to do almost his whole round again, as his load was knocked over, and he forgot to deliver that one when he came around first. But something is just not right about the package, and when Kitty sees an old enemy looking at her from across the square, she goes after him. Only to loose him at the cemetery, when she runs into some other old acquaintances. But her honorary uncle the Dingo assures her they come as friends, and are there to protect her. That package she is still carrying, holds a bioweapon and she really should give it to them to dispose off.
Going back home, she walks into Buchanan, her favourite bodyguard, but apparently he did not see the package. He only saw her chasing someone.

A very unsuspected visitor makes Kitty late for dinner, and again it is Buchanan who takes over for her. Until they can find out if this visitor is to be trusted, he will have to stay in the basement.
Kitty has to hurry back to the dining room, and she has to be nice to all the people waiting for her at the other tables. Her former friend Eugene, who sits at the table behind her, insists on helping her get seated, even though her two neighbours are perfectly capable of helping her. And he is very clumsy doing that, even bumping her into the table. When later their new friend Reyes (and Representative for New Mexico, their own district), gets sick, Kitty and Camilla help him to the bathroom, where it becomes clear he has been poisoned.

When Reyes dies on their soil, they have a murder on their hands, and Kitty is determined to find him or her. With the help of her favourite K-9 squad, that is not difficult. But when the killer is murdered while Kitty is questioning him, there are only more questions left they need to find the answers for. Especially if Vance tries to be her new best friend and wants to share his conspiracy theories with her.


What happens next is a lot of running around, talking theories and searching for clues in various politicians’ offices. Who can they trust, how will they find out the truth, and how do you make friends with your political enemies?
I liked the bits with the Peregrines and the Poofs, but I am sad that the Poofs did not have to come into action. The visitors from out of space are cool, and I hope they get to stay for a while, and help Kitty in her adventures. I was really glad to see a bit more of Reader in this book, as he was sorely lacking in the previous one. He and Kitty together are some of my favourite scenes.

Chuckie/Charles is getting married! His fiancée is turning into some kind of Bridezilla though, until Kitty gives her a piece of her mind about it all.
I also enjoy the parts with the hackers, the bantering with Kitty and those guys, and especially the obscure references to comic books and such.
And Amy is fighting to become the new director and manager of Gaultier Enterprises, as her fathers’ sole heir. He was evil to the bone and a lot of plots against the A-C’s lead back to Gaultier. With her at the helm, they will be able to find out more, and how to fight it.

But I have to admit, as I am really not interested in politics, and think they are all a bunch of liars and out to fill their own pockets instead of doing as they promised to their voters, I was not enjoying this book as much as the previous ones. Jeff as the new representative? Leaving Kitty as the sole Ambassador?
I am glad though, that I picked some clue up in the previous book, which was important for this one. My suspicions came true. And following a brilliant though chaotic mind like Gini Koch in one of her plots, is not easy. She keeps throwing surprises and twists as her readers, and it does keep you engaged.

I love the action, the main characters, all the different animals who all help out in their own way (except Belly) and the fun and weirdness of the plots. It is just, well, politics that I dislike.

I do recommend you to start this series with the first book, there are an enormous lot of secondary characters in those books, and you want to be introduced to them all gently. Otherwise, you have no idea of who is who and why are they doing what they are doing.
And I have to agree with Kitty, I miss the action from the first books, when they were the heads of the divisions, and could just go and fight the fuglies, instead of being polite to people you dislike. Music on loud, get the flyboys and go!

But now you know what the title means: Alien in the House!

8 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Anne Bishop – Shalador’s Lady

The eighth book in the Black Jewels series, published March 2010.



For years the Shalador people suffered the cruelties of the corrupt Queens who ruled them, forbidding their traditions, punishing those who dared show defiance, and forcing many more into hiding. And even though the refugees have found sanctuary in Dena Nahele, they have never been able to call it home.
Now that their land has been cleansed of tainted Blood, the Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, knows that restoring the land will require all her heart and courage as she summons the untested power within her, a power capable of consuming her if she cannot control it.
And even if Lady Cassidy survives her trial by fire, other dangers await. For the Black Widows see within their tangled webs visions of something coming that will change the land -and Lady Cassidy - forever...


I have re-read this book again, back to back with The Shadow Queen, and again I still love it. The story and characters keep drawing me in, and I did not want the book to end. I keep hoping for a sequel.

Lady Cassidy is visiting some of her people for the first time, and she is very nervous about it. The Shalador people have had the worst of it all, and they really need her the most. Their whole culture was outlawed by the previous Queens, and they were bound to live on Reservations that kept getting smaller and smaller. But some of their Queens and Priestesses have survived in the deepest secret, and it is not easy for them to trust a new and foreign Queen. So much of the old ways have been forgotten, and Cassidy can show them what to do for the land and its people. How to use the Queens gift to make the crops grow faster and stronger and healthier. But the land is drained, and it almost takes all Cassidy has to offer before someone stops her. Cassidy really likes her time in Shalador, but the Court has to return to Grayhaven Mansion again. And there a really nasty surprise awaits Cassie.
Her old nemesis, Queen Kermilla has arrived, trying to get some money out of Cassidy. Kermilla is the Queen her whole old court left her for, and it appears as if they are regretting their choice. Kermilla is not fit to be a Queen, she is a spendthrift and totally selfish. And now she wants what Cassidy has, again. Cassidy sends her back home, and banishes her from her country, but Theran interferes with her decision by inviting Kermilla to stay as his personal guest.

It doesn’t take long for Cassidy to want to run, she can’t bear to live with Kermilla in the same house again, and see her use her flirting ways on her Court. So when Ranon finds out she is ready to leave them, he takes her home to the Shalador preserve again. And there they set up Court, without Theran who is as happy as can be with the woman he considers a true Queen. But he is blind to her true nature, and only sees her beauty. In the end, he will have to make a very hard choice.
Not only the Court joins Cassie in Shalador, some of the landen families she met want to join them as well. Theran wants to set up Lady Kermilla as the new Queen of Dena Nehele, and they really do not want to live under her reign. She is already abusing her power as a Queen, shoplifting and threatening people.

Cassie even asks Daemon to help with opening some shops in the small village that is her new home, and he agrees, and even loans her an amazing amount of money to use to rebuild her country and Court. The people start trusting Cassidy, and she even has a young Shalador Queen serving as her apprentice. And when she brings back their culture, embraces it, the Shalador people start to love her.

But her first probational year of being the Queen of Dena Nehele is almost over, and they all know that Theran will break her Court. They need to find a solution, and fast. Or there will be a civil war …


I really loved watching them rebuild the village; make a community, a home. Gray has come into his own, and when he is finally healed enough to be Cassie’s lover, wow, that was such a great scene. I enjoyed all the new Scelties as well, and how they guard the village against all villains.
Theran got what he so richly deserves, stupid blind man, and I hope he learns his lesson. But he will never be a part of Cassidy’s Court again.
Cassie is such a great character, down to earth and with a big heart. She is an outstanding Queen, and she reunites her people. I loved the building of the trust between them, and all the new developments. And of course the new Scelties, and how they charge people money to do their work.

So many great characters, such a vivid world building, I really wish I could go visit them, meet them all, and of course be a Dark Jeweled Lady myself.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Anne Bishop – The Shadow Queen

The seventh book in the Black Jewels series, published March 3, 2009.
Genre: fantasy romance
Cover: nice



Dena Nehele is a decimated land. Once it was ruled by corrupt Queens who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now, only one hundred Warlord Princes stand … without a leader and without hope.
Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who knows Protocol, remembers the Blood's code of honor and lives by the Old Ways. Languishing in the Shadow Realm, Lady Cassidy is a Queen without a court, a castoff. But when she is chosen to rule Dena Nehele, she must convince bitter men to serve once again.
Theran’s cousin Gray is a Warlord Prince who was damaged in mind and body by the vicious Queens who once ruled Dena Nehele. Yet something about Cassidy makes him want to serve - and makes him believe he can be made whole again.
And only Cassidy can prove to Gray – and to herself – that wounds can heal and even the whisper of a promise can be fulfilled.


I think I have read this book 4 or 5 times now, and I still love it. There is not as much tragedy as in the first books in this series, and I love revisiting this realm time and again. The worldbuilding is just awesome, and I love everything about it.

3 years ago, the evil Queens and those of the Blood they had tainted, were destroyed by Jaenelle, the Queen of Ebon Askavi. A great cost to herself, and those she loves. Dena Nahele is the country that suffered the most. After the purging, the landens rose against The Blood, and now there are no Queens left, and only one hundred Warlord Princes. They need a Queen to rule them, to keep their volatile and aggressive tempers in check. Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, and the Queens who ruled the country before evil took over, were from his family (see: the Invisible Ring). He will take the quest to ask for a favor from Daemon Sadi, as he once helped his ancestors fight of Dorothea SaDiablo for a little longer, also as he has now the highest ranking Jewels in Dena Nahele.
Unfortunately for Theran, he does not find Daemon at the Keep, but Saetan SaDiablo, and he does not recognize the higher power at all, and is kind of insulting. He does not even want to tell his name. Saetan is still very protective of Daemon, and doesn’t like Theran. But Daemon agrees to see Theran, and he is send over to SaDiablo Hall where he is really shocked that the butler is a Red Jeweled Warlord, which means he outranks Theran.
Theran also dismisses Jeanelle because of her looks, he cannot sense the power within her, which means he has failed the most important test already. But Jeanelle wants to hear his request, as she has seen something in a tangled web that concerns Dena Nahele.
When Theran asks for Daemon’s help in convincing a Queen from Kaeleer to come back with him and rule Dena Nahele, Jeanelle knows the perfect woman. She is not a strong Queen, she only wears the Rose Jewel, but she knows the old ways and Protocal, and that is what Theran needs. As she is also not beautiful, as Theran thinks a Queen should be, he doesn’t like her on sight, and is disappointed that he did not get more choices. Daemon also forces some heavy rules on him, and he is to report weakly to him. There will be a trial period of one year for now. And the thing that Theran is most upset about, he will have to accept the Purple Dusk jeweled Sceltie witch Lady Vae with him. She will help train him in Protocol and the old ways.

Cassidy is an unhappy Queen, living with her parents again. She has ruled two small villages before, and she really thought she was a good Queen, but her whole first circle dropped her for a young and vibrant girl who charmed them all. And without a first circle, a Queen is not really a Queen. But now she has the chance to mean something for a whole country, and teach them the old ways. She is determined to do right by Dena Nahele and all the inhabitants, be they Blood or Landen.
Theran organizes for Cassidy to meet all the Warlord Princes and Warlords left in Dena Nahele, so she can choose her Court. She needs 12 males to serve her, and Theran himself will be her First Escort. Those males are rebels and rogues, living in secret camps in the mountains for the past few centuries, and fighting the evil Queens and their warriors when ever necessary. They are not used to serving a Queen, and not really willing to either. But they know they need a Queen if the land is to be fertile again.

And so Cassie’s rule begins, and it is difficult, as especially Theran opposes most of her ideas as he just doesn’t like her, and doesn’t want her for his Queen. As the last Grayhaven the rest of the Court look up to him, and as they reside in his families’ mansion, they mostly defer to him. But when Lucivar drops by for a visit, he teaches them the importance of learning Protocol and following the old ways. And slowly a real Court starts to form.

Then there is Prince Gray. He was tortured as a young boy, and has not really grown up since. Scarred inside and out, and too afraid to live inside the family mansion. But when he sees Cassie for the first time, something starts to change inside of him, and he wants to become more as he could have been.


As typed before, I really love this book and all the characters inside. Well, except for Theran who is a superficial ass. Sure his life has not been easy, but it was better than most thanks to his last name and heritage.
I love the story itself, how they are struggling to rebuild their country, and reunite the people in it. Cassie is not young, or pretty, but she is capable, and with some help she really is the Queen they need. And that Theran just cannot see that, is his loss. I loved how this bunch of males get used to forming a Court, and taking care of their Queen.
One of the best parts, to watch Gray grow slowly into his own. And yes, he does recognize the power in Jeanelle, and becomes friends of a sort with the most scary males in this realm. I loved how he got advice about life and love from Daemon and Lucivar and Saetan.

There are also little peeks in the lives of Daemon and Jeanelle, Lucivar and Marian, and Saetan, and I enjoy that very much. The Kindred, I sure love all of those. Theran really deserves Lady Vae and she does not hesitate to bite him if he doesn’t listen to her.


I do recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy romance. Anne Bishop really is the best in this genre. If you haven’t read this series yet, you are missing out on a great adventure.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

J.R. Ward – Rapture

The fourth book in the Fallen Angels series, published September 25, 2012.
Genre: paranormal romance / urban fantasy
Cover: Gorgeous. Mine is the smaller one, which has a delicious Paul Marron stepcover.




Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they're over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too ...As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover's memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you're trapped in a no-holds-barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels's heart at risk, what in heaven - or in hell - will it take to save them both?


This book sure surprised me. I knew that Davina would be punished for cheating in the previous book, and killing Eddy. But to have her price stolen from her, and battle again for his soul, that was great. It is really hard to write a review about this book without spoiling too much and ruin the surprises in it. The hero’s name is left out of the blurb for a reason of course. So, I have to take this from a different angle.

I liked Mels, she is stubborn as only a reporter can be. She really misses her father, who died three years ago in a car accident. If only he would not have worn his seatbelt, he would have survived. Which is the reason Mels refuses to wear hers. She has come back home to take care of her mother, as that was her fathers job, but she is not really close with her mother. Still, that really changes in this book, she sees that her mother has made a whole new life for her self, filled with hobbies and friends, and that she does not need taking care of.
Finding love with a dangerous man, a man she does not really trust, really makes her look at her own life differently, and she makes some changes. I liked that, it takes a strong character to start over. Of course, she does some stupid things as well, and has little sense of self preservation. But that can be the reporter part, and was of course necessary for the plot line.

Now, the hero of the story. I never did believe he was redeemable at all. A true psychopath since childhood, and kind of raised by Davina to be her tool. So loosing his memory is giving him new options, and new morals? That is truly hard to believe, but it worked. He has never fallen in love before, and now he has. Of course he does not believe that it will ever work out between them, he knows he has to stay on the run, but he will do what he can for Mels first. And to keep her safe is the most important thing there is.

Adrian has a real hard time coping with Eddy’s loss. They did everything together, and even sex has lost its appeal. And so he decides to do something totally selfless and heroic, and performs a true miracle. I did admire him for that, but I really, really hope this will be made undone somehow, and he can be my gorgeous Adrian again.

We even get some new clues about Dog, and that was totally making me laugh.

Then there is Jim Heron, our angel hero, and the one destined to win enough souls over to the side of good, to safe the earth itself from becoming hell. He also misses Eddy, and especially everything he was learning about his own angelic powers. Nigel is his old tight-lipped self, and won’t tell him what he wants to now. And Davina is tormenting him by killing woman with the same blond hair as Sissy. Leaving a message carved in their stomach for him to find. Jim can’t bear the thought of his innocent Sissy trapped in the same hell as all those people who do deserve to be there, tortured for eternity. And Davina really uses it to get under his skin.

Davina, our demon lady. J.R. Ward truly made her too horrible to look at, though of course she can appear extraordinary beautiful if she wants to. I love how she sees a psychologist for her many phobias, and for example, needs to have 12 exactly the same lipsticks in her purse. She is addicted to her little mementos and routines and she tries to loose some of them. I don’t think the therapy is helping very much, but perhaps with her anxiety attacks. Even though she is the evil personified in this series, I do kind of like her.


I do love this series, and think it is better than the BDB series. What I do find annoying though, is the chapter breaks, just when things are getting exciting or heating up. We will continue with one of the other characters storyline first, before getting to know what happens next. I know she does this in the BDB books as well, and yes, it keeps you reading past your bedtime. The plot twists and turns, and surprises again and again.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Sofie Kelly – Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

The first book in the Magical Cats Mystery series, published February 1, 2011.
Genre: cozy mystery with paranormal cats
Cover: nice



When librarian Kathleen Paulson leaves her life in Boston and moves to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she has no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there seems to be something more to these felines.
When murder interrupts Mayville's Wild Rose Summer Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are truly special – perhaps even magical. Suddenly she's relying on their skills to solve this crime and save her reputation. With a little legwork from her four-legged friends, Kathleen may be able to solve this purr-fect murder….


Kathleen is the new head librarian overseeing the renovation of the library in Mayville Heights, Minnesota. They hope to be finished in time for the Wild Rose Summer Music Festival, as the library is an historical landmark. But unfortunately, the local contractor is taking his own sweet time, and doesn’t bother answering his phone when Kathleen calls him. So when the famous conductor Gregor Easton wants to use the libraries computer to access the internet, as promised in the flyer he received earlier, he gets very obnoxious when that is not possible yet.
When Owen, one of her cats who snuck in her purse that day, attacks Gregor, Kathleen has to do her best to placate the man. Early the next morning Kathleen decides to find the local handy man, and have him set up the tables and chairs for the computer room, so she can at least put together one of the computers for use. Instead of finding Oren at the town music hall, she finds a dead Gregor Easton instead. As her parents are actors, she is used to dead bodies on a stage, but this is a real one.
The police question her of course, as she is now a suspect. They even seem to think she had a “date” with the man! She did not even know him before yesterday! And when they find some blood in the library, they seem to think that is the place he was killed. But why would he go to the library late at night? She certainly did not invite him!

To clear her own name, and because her cats seem intent on investigating the case, she can’t help but find out things about Gregor. He was not unknown to a lot of people in this town, but who loathed him enough to kill him? And why? Just because he was a lecherous old man?
And what is with all the small accidents happening to her in the library? Surely the contractor is not trying to seriously hurt her.


It took me a while to get into this story. But that is often the case with a first book. I did like the setting, and the other ladies Kathleen interacts with. I do want to find out more about the estate that the cats are living on, and where Kathleen’s two magical cats are from. They followed her home one day, and stayed with her, even though they are feral cats. Owen is fun as he is addicted to cat nip, hidden in something called Fred the Funky Chicken, and Kathleen keeps finding pieces of Fred all over the house. Owen hates her choice of music, and Hercules loves it, which is fun as well.

The mystery was good, but not really surprising, I did figure out the reason pretty soon. But all the circumstances, and family relations those were a nice surprise for me. I will be reading the rest of the series soon, as those books are already on my shelves.

7 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Jemma Chase – Amazing and Waiting

2 novelettes published November 20, 2012.
Genre: science fiction / suspense
Cover: intriguing.



Waiting.
Come visit the far future, where derelict spaceships are Waiting in deep space for salvage...or maybe for rescue.

A woman has been forced by Earth government to become a space salvager, in order to get her husband out of prison. Now she has discovered a true price, a very old spaceship, worth a lot of money, perhaps enough to finally get free. But when she discovers Pandora’s Box, what will she do?

Amazing.
Then take a trip to an Amazing resort run by a mysterious benefactor who may or may not want to give his guests a vacation to die for.

4 couples are finding their way through some kind of strange maze. They were expecting a luxury vacation, but this is turning deadly.


This is one “book” with two very short stories written by Jemma Chase (also known as Gini Koch), but she writes under a different pen name for a good reason. This writing style is completely different from her Gini Koch books, so don’t expect her custom sense of humor and wit.

I liked the first story, a woman, a robot and a spaceship, travelling through space trying to salvage enough to rescue her husband. But when she finds something unexpected (and creepy) and learns the truth about what happened back on Earth, what will she do? It sure makes you think.

The second one was just creepy and very strange. Running through a maze, trying to find the exit, and not knowing what will happen or what dangers are ahead. And when the choices make decide between life and death, is love important any more?

If you like short and strange stories, something to make you scratch your head and think: what if? Go for it. This is for sure original and new, and as it is only 2,99 at Smashwords at the moment, why not. The link is at the bottom of the post. Two short stories in one download.

7 stars.



Buy from:
Amazon

(and the much cheaper option for International readers):
Smashwords

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian