Tides by Anne Azel

Publisher:    Bedazzled Ink

It’s unfortunate when a book that has a basically good story is ruined by poor production methods.  With all of the editing programs and qualified editors that are available, there is no excuse for a book that has multiple errors.  The problem diminishes as the book progresses, but the first few chapters are full of mistakes, including misspelled words and words that are missing from the sentences.

Jackie Cunningham is a former TV and press journalist who has reached that point in her life where she can live her life exactly like she wants to.  She’s in her 70s and dying, so she says what she thinks without compromising or worrying about who she upsets.  Before she dies, Jackie has a few things to take care of.  She wants to make sure that her niece Paula, Paula’s partner and their child are set up comfortably in the home that Jackie owns on the coast of Newfoundland.  She’s also willing to take care of the rest of the family if they’ll just leave her alone.

The story is told in alternating scenes from Jackie’s early life and the present.  Because of the time in which the book is set, Jackie is not out as a lesbian most of her life, but that didn’t keep her from having a full and healthy sexual life; however, her real partners were the adventures she had and the adrenaline rush she got from them.  She avoids her real partner to dash around the world after stories.  This creates another problem with the book in that it reads like a listing of famous historical events in the twentieth century.  Instead of developing any of the experiences completely to show Jackie’s character, it’s almost like listening to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” where incidents are spewed forth so quickly, most of them aren’t heard, much less understood.  It seems that Azel is creating a record of the century rather than trying to tell a story.

Few of the characters are very interesting, though the end of Jackie’s life is fun.  As the family circles like vultures, she derives great pleasure from setting up an oceanographic institute for Paula and showing her obvious favor for Paula’s family.  It’s also clear that she is somewhat jealous of the freedom that Paula feels in today’s world.  The reader will easily imagine Jackie wondering what her life would have been like if the attitudes towards homosexuals had been different.

Tides could have been a much better book with a little more time and a great deal more detail to how it was published.  As it is, it comes off as OK, not terribly offensive, but not outstanding either.  Azel has certainly done better in the past.

The publisher is aware of the problem with some of the books and has promised to replace any of them that are flawed if the reader contacts the company.

 

Skulls & Crossbones edited by Andi Marquette and R.G. Emannuelle

Publisher:               Bedazzled Ink Publishing

Skulls & Crossbones is a collection for people who enjoy pirate stories.  It contains twenty tales by different authors, many of whom have been published in other anthologies or who have books of their own.  There is a biography of each author provided at the end of the book.  The stories are arranged in chronological order ranging from Viking raiders to space marauders in the future and they vary in length, from five to eighteen pages.  They demonstrate that the definition of a pirate is not standard as some of them feature blood-thirsty killers, some privateers and some characters who see piracy as a way to help people who are less fortunate.  Happy endings are not guaranteed in these stories, but pirates seldom have happy endings.

One of the unique aspects of this book is that the stories don't vary in quality.  Usually in an anthology, some stories are weak, some are strong and a lot fall in the category of alright.  This book doesn't have any poorly written stories, but none of them stand out as especially interesting either.  A couple of them are difficult to understand because they drop the reader into the middle of a story or make references to events that the reader has no knowledge of.  One positive for the book is that it is well edited.

This is a perfect book for sitting on the night stand.  You can read one story at a time and not have to worry about remembering plot points.

Rebeccah and the Highwayman by Barbara Davies

Publisher:            Bedazzled Ink Publishing


In 1706, traveling on an English highway at night was a blatant invitation to be robbed. Mistress Rebeccah Dutton, her sister Anne and their mother have that lesson reinforced for them when their carriage is stopped by the famous highwayman Blue-eyed Nick. Though they should have been terrified, Rebeccah finds herself more intrigued by the thief who goes out of his way not to hurt anyone and even shows her some chivalrous behavior. This evening spawns several sightings between the two where their mutual attraction grows, culminating with a night when Rebeccah's life and virtue are saved by Nick killing three ruffians who intend worse than robbery. Nick is seriously wounded in the fight and Rebeccah and her servant Mary think nothing of taking him back to their house to treat him, which is when they make the startling revelation that "he" is a "she."

Kate Milledge knows what most ordinary people in Queen Anne's England have accepted. Survival is more often a factor of being clever, and hard work often leaves a person with nothing but a miserable existence. She has family to provide for, and robbing rich people of their valuables makes that possible. When she makes a particularly good haul she tries to share what she has with people who are less fortunate, but Blue-eyed Nick has no doubt that her life will one day lead her to the end of a rope at a Tyburn hanging.
Kate knows that a relationship with Rebeccah threatens her safety, but, when Rebeccah asks for help to save her sister Anne from a kidnapper, there is no hesitation on Kate's part. That it leads to her being captured and sentenced to death is no surprise. That Rebeccah and her mother set out to save her life, including going directly to Queen Anne, is stunning. 

As time gets short and the appointment with the noose gets closer, Kate can only wonder if this is truly how it will all end and, if not, what will she then do with her life and the fact that she's pretty sure Rebeccah doesn't return her affections? Rebeccah is clever herself however and has more than one surprise waiting for Blue-eyed Nick.

Rebeccah and the Highwayman is a good, old-fashioned romp. Those who like period pieces will find the setting of early 18th century England perfect with its laces, manners and sword fighting. Readers who like a story with a historic background will appreciate the little details sprinkled through this book that give it authenticity.
A number of times in this book the reader will find herself saying, "So that's what they did about that." The scenes describing life in the streets, conditions in the prisons and the carnival atmosphere of hangings are particularly rich. The result of this is a feeling for the reader of being in the time of the book. It also makes what could have been a routine romance a little more exotic. How often does a heroine rush into a scene on horseback firing flintlock pistols and brandishing a rapier? This is a well-crafted book with adventure, suspense, tension and a little romance thrown in. Those looking for torrid sex scenes won't find them, but that only goes to prove that a story can be entertaining and fun to read without them. If tales set in history are not what a reader normally looks for, this one still has enough selling points to make it worth trying.

Knight Predator by Jordan Falconer

Publisher:               Bedazzled Ink Publishing

Carlisle Crowley is a different kind of vampire.  She feeds off of humans only when she has to and then she chooses those who prey on the weak and innocent.  One night she goes out for a walk and discovers a small child named Bronwyn Hunter.  The vampire takes Bronwyn home to her parents not realizing that she has set in motion events that will change both of their lives.  When they meet again Bronwyn is seventeen, rebellious and determined to make a life with Carlisle.  Because her parents have rejected her and to get her off of the streets, Carlisle agrees to let Bronwyn come live with her.  Carlisle thinks they'll just be friends, but Bronwyn is alluring and knows what she wants.  Soon they are showing each other that there is a greater possibility for them.  Unfortunately, Crowley is being hunted by other vampires because she is trying to overcome her instincts.  She will have to determine what Bronwyn means to her before she involves her in this battle.

Falconer's book is another one of those about the "good" vampire.  Carlisle is trying to reject the normal life associated with the creatures and live like a "regular" person.  The reader gets a chance to see a person fighting against her inherent nature.  The story between Carlisle and Bronwyn reveals the tension between two characters who shouldn't be together, but can't resist the pull.  The real conflict in the book comes at the end, but is very intense.

Knight Predator is a good story about unconventional characters.  It falls in among the many books that seem to revolve around this subject right now, but that doesn't detract from it being a good way to be entertained.

Friends in High Places by Andi Marquette

Publisher:             Bedazzles Ink Publishing

Andi Marquette detours from her better known mysteries to journey in the realm of science fiction with Friends in High Places, which is listed as the first volume in the Far Seek Chronicles.

Torri Rendego is the captain of the space ship Far Seek.  She's also a renegade trader and smuggler.  She skates right on the edge of the law trying not to draw the notice of the Coalition, the organization that runs her corner of the universe.  When she's sent to procure some rare black opals, she runs into Kai Tinsdale, a rising officer in the Coalition.  The women first met when they were both cadets at the Academy and, though they're on opposite sides of the law, they quickly become lovers and co-conspirators.  Kai realizes that someone is setting Torri up to be caught and sets out to help Torri and her crew.  Perhaps

Because this book is obviously a set up for a series there are some weaknesses.  The story just ends with no resolution, but lots of hints about what is to come.  The reader is definitely left feeling that more plot could have been included.  The story is sometimes difficult to follow because so many characters use aliases that have to be kept track of and there are words that have meaning in that universe, but the reader is left to figure them out.  A glossary of some sort would have been helpful.   

There is the basis for a good series in this book, but a great deal more development is needed.  

Frederica and the Viscountess by Barbara Davies

Publisher:                Bedazzled Ink Publishing

Barbara Davies pays homage to Jane Austen in this story of a sheltered country girl and a worldly, wayward noble woman. 

Frederica Bertram feels it is her duty to walk over to Thornbury Park each day to visit her neighbors and the gentleman who is staying with them.  Everyone expects that there will be a marriage proposal soon and that Frederica will accept.  Her family is in financial difficulties and this marriage could solve their problems.  Frederica isn't excited by the idea, but she is resigned to it until her neighbor's notorious sister, Joanna, Viscountess of Norland, blows into the area.  Joanna's fondness for wild escapades has preceded her, but Frederica quickly realizes that there is more to the woman than her reputation and she soon becomes the reason for Frederica's visits.  Unfortunately, Joanna's friend Lord Peregrine is a total cad and creates an uproar that could ruin the good name of the Bertrams.  As the women dash across England to try and correct the situation, Joanna realizes that this latest adventure may cost her the person she cares about more than anyone. 

The book also contains two short stories about a pirate named Murdering Meg.  Meg is determined to get vengeance on the man who abused her many years before and his disgusting sons.  Her intention is to kidnap the man's daughter Alice who is at the center of his plans.  When they were much younger Alice and Meg were lovers and only the cruelty of Alice's father has kept them apart.  Meg promised she would come back for Alice one day and that is exactly what she intends to do, no matter what the consequences are.

Davies does an excellent job of emulating Austen's style and mannerisms in the story of the viscountess.  The influence of Pride and Prejudice will be obvious to any reader who is familiar with that book.  The nice thing about the book is that Davies stays true to the period in dealing with the love affair between the women.  They're not running around in the early 19^th century pretending that no one would have a problem with a lesbian couple.  Instead, they come to an accommodation that allows them to disguise their relationship in a perfectly acceptable manner.  A method that was probably actually used by women of that period.  The story could have been longer and not have such a rushed ending, but overall it's a pleasant tale.  The stories of Murdering Meg are just good pirate romps and make nice companion pieces to the larger story.

This is a fun book to read, especially for fans of Austen.  The fact that it's broken into three parts makes it convenient for short periods of reading.

Bourn's Edge by Barbara Davies

Publisher:                 Bedazzled Ink

Cassie Lewis tried to do the right thing by testifying against her corrupt landlord and now people are trying to kill her.  In a panic, Cassie flees from her home, traveling across the country with no plan in the hope that it will throw off the killers.  That's how she comes to Bourn's Edge, a quaint village on the outskirts of an ancient forest.  Among the unique people she meets there is Tarian Brangwen.  To the people of the town Tarian is an eccentric artist, but she's also a Fae who has been exiled from Faerie by Queen Mab.  Tarian wants to lead a quiet life of isolation, but when she senses that people have come to the town to kill Cassie, she has to respond.  Fae and mortals are not supposed to mix well, but Tarian and Cassie discover that isn't a problem for them, but dealing with people in both of their worlds could get them killed.

Bourn's Edge is presented as three short stories instead of a book length  story.  Part I explains how Cassie and Tarian meet and become partners.  Part II, called "The Doll Hospital," involves them in trying to undo the work of a changeling and freeing the human whose place he took.  This one has permanent consequences for Tarian that require her to make a great sacrifice.  Part III, "The Raggedy Bush," requires Tarian to battle an old enemy to save Cassie and brings the women in contact with magic that is older than even the Faeries possess.   

The book is enjoyable, but breaking up the story means it doesn't have a consistent pace.  The reader is also left with the feeling that there are pieces of information about the characters that are missing.  They hop from adventure to adventure and lose some development in the process.  For example, there is a relationship between Tarian and her two wolf hounds that indicates something more is going on between them than just a relationship between a mistress and her pets, but what the situation is rests just beyond the reader's grasp.  These are the types of stories that could easily lead to a series revealing more about the characters and their world.

Bourn's Edge will appeal to people who like stories about faeries interacting with humans.  The stories are just the length for an hour or so of reading and then the book can be put down.  One note is that the author is British and sets the stories in the area between England and Wales, so she stays true to British spellings and references.  US readers particularly will have to adjust to seeing words like tyre and kerb and references to foods they may not recognize.

Adijan and Her Genie by L-J Baker

Publisher:             Bedazzled Ink Publishing


Calling L-J Baker’s books fantasies may be a mistake, because people who don’t like that genre will miss a terrific reading experience if they don’t read her books. Although there’s often an aspect of fairy tales in her stories, at their hearts they are adventure books. Adijan and Her Genie is about a hero on a quest told with a touch of The Arabian Nights.

Adijan is a screw-up. She has big dreams, but everything she does turns out to be a fiasco and often treads on the other side of the law, so she covers her inadequacies with liquor and dwells in poverty. The only correct thing she has done in her life is marrying Shalimar, who she loves desperately, but Shali’s brother is determined to break the union apart and marry her off to someone who can do him some good financially. 

One of her trips to deliver questionable goods leaves her in possession of a locket that contains an enchanted woman named Zobeide. Typical for Adijan’s luck, this woman has no magic power at all to create wealth or good fortune and, when she’s out of the locket, she’s arrogant, self-centered and a real pain in the posterior.
When Shali’s brother manages to separate Shali from Adijan and accomplish a fraudulent divorce, Adijan becomes frantic to win her back before she can be shoved into another marriage. Her only hope seems to be to take Zobeide back to her hometown where she can be freed from her enchantment and pay Adijan the reward that will help her overcome her ex-brother-in-law’s plans. The journey is long and complicated but rewarding for Adijan in ways that she did not anticipate. She learns to face some of her own weaknesses and discovers strengths in her character that she didn’t realize she possessed. She also stands as an example of what the power of love can do as an incentive. The only question is if she can complete her journey in time for any of it to ultimately do her and Shalimar any good. 

Although Baker never specifically sets this story in the ancient Middle East, anyone who has read the stories of Sinbad that Sailor and Ali Baba will recognize the tone and the surroundings. Though there is the touch of fantasy, one of the strengths of the story is that it seems totally plausible. Many of the escape scenes would fit just as easily into a Mission Impossible setting or Bourne movie.
The greatest strength however is the way Baker deals with character development. Adijan is not a very admirable person when the story begins, but she grows through the story and acquires traits that transform her into a true hero. Zobeide, who is originally totally unlikable, becomes an appealing person as she learns to amend her attitudes and perceptions. The interesting twist is that she learns these lessons from Adijan, a person she starts out totally despising.
At heart, Adijan and Her Genie is an adventure story with plenty of crises, triumphs and near disasters, but it’s also an encouraging lesson in how a person can change, improve and come to live up to her true potential. This is one of those books that can be read to just enjoy a tale, but also has something to teach in the process.